Dear editor:

I want to correct a misperception that Toby Sheets expressed in her Feb. 4, 2025 letter to the editor. Ms. Sheets states that Wyoming Rising “is an organization which suggested that their members register as Republican in the primary elections, then switch to their true party affiliation of Democrat in the general election.”

I’m sorry Ms. Sheets, but you are incorrect. Wyoming Rising does not care which party affiliation our members and followers have. I assume we have members from both parties, but we don’t ask. We don’t care. 

Please look at our website (wyomingrising.org) under the NEWS tab and go back through a couple of years. You will not find any articles advocating for RINOS. In fact, the only mention of that word that I could find is a page from Sept. 18, 2023, that describes the problem with Wyoming’s closed primary system and advocates for open primaries: “Wyoming Rising believes that open primaries would solve the problem of RINOS in the Republican Party. If primary elections were not partisan, all voters would have a voice and candidates from all points of view could run for office.” 

Wyoming Rising is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving five commonly held Wyoming values: protection of civil liberties, quality public education, affordable health care and protection of the environment. We advocate for preserving these five values through encouraging citizen participation in Wyoming government. We welcome anyone who shares these values.

And to answer your question if our work is in Wyoming’s best interest: YES, we believe these values ARE shared by Wyoming citizens.

Renée Tafoya

Vice chair, Wyoming Rising

Cody