Reid Rasner is on the road a lot these days. Rasner doesn’t have the name recognition of U.S. Sen. John Barrasso — the man he intends to challenge in next year’s Republican primary — so he’s been hosting regular town halls around the state.

“They’re long, hard days right now,” Rasner said during an Oct. 6 stop in Powell. “I have one full year to get my name out there — and I’m starting to make a difference.”

He’s built his campaign around three big goals: a balanced federal budget, energy independence and term limits for members of Congress. Progress on those three issues could “really change the direction of the country,” Rasner said, and he believes they enjoy broad support across the political spectrum.

The campaign, he said, is about “doing what’s best for America” and not a “left versus right thing.” He contends that the country doesn’t need to be so divided — advice he applies to the recent infighting within the House Republican caucus.

“... If we just fought for the American people as hard as we fight for Ukraine, as hard as they fight for their own individual parties, America would be in a lot different position today than it is,” he said.

Rasner, of Casper, is a Wyoming native. His work experience includes running his family’s glass business, selling real estate and now operating a financial planning and investment management firm. His campaign experience is most limited, consisting of a 2017 run for the Las Vegas City Council while he was living in Nevada; Rasner picked up a little more than 1% of the vote, finishing seventh in a 10-candidate field. 

“I’m just a common sense guy,” he said. “I’m not a politician. I’m just a normal guy who is running for office.”

The 39-year-old believes it’s time for fresher, younger candidates to get involved, noting Barrasso, 71, has been in the state or U.S. Senate for 20 years. Rasner also says Wyoming’s senior senator hasn’t done enough to promote American energy independence.

While Rasner is fine with nuclear and hydrogen power, he sees wind as “terrible,” and wants to instead “unleash” oil, natural gas and coal production. Rasner said the Department of the Interior needs to be held accountable for restricting the industry, including its failure to hold quarterly oil and gas leases. 

“John [Barrasso] gave a very stern talking to them on the Senate floor, but it just wasn’t enough,” Rasner said. “Someone has to hold their feet to the fire, and someone needs to get tough with these bureaucrats who are legislating from their offices and holding up the American economy, our energy.”

He feels the same way about border security.

Rasner also wants the U.S. to stop funding Ukraine, believing the United States will end up getting into a “hot war” with Russia. He said the U.S. should “force peace” in the region, in part by telling NATO allies to stop funding Ukraine. Both sides will lose something, he said, but the U.S. and the world will win.

“My entire adult life has been lived through recession and war, and this has to end,” Rasner said, adding, “We need to start getting American policy to take care of Americans, rebuild our infrastructure and make sure that America is taken care of.”

Rasner said friends and business clients had encouraged him to run for office for years, and late last spring, he decided to jump into the Senate race. Rasner announced his campaign in August and by the end of September, he raised $19,930, according to campaign finance reports. Rasner said it was a good start, though “not enough” to compete with Barrasso — who reported having more than $6.36 million on hand last month.

Attendance at Rasner’s town halls has varied, he said; his Powell event, held on a Friday evening at Northwest College, drew just two members of the public. But overall, Rasner feels like he’s picking up momentum.

“I’ve got my finger on the heartbeat I think of not just Wyoming, but of America, and I can really feel the pulse,” he said, “and people are getting excited.”