Republican Governor Mark Gordon has decided not to attend a Friday night banquet being hosted by the state GOP party as part of the annual Wyoming Republican Party Convention. And he won’t attend any other events related to the convention, which is taking place now through the weekend.
A spokesman for Gordon confirmed to Cowboy State Daily that the governor won’t attend the four-day event that began Thursday morning at Little America Resort in Cheyenne. Spokesman Michael Pearlman says Gordon has a previous commitment for an event on Friday night and didn’t anticipate being invited to the state GOP events on Saturday. Gordon has prior commitments for Saturday, he said.
“He recognizes it is an important event for Wyoming Republicans in an election year, and the governor wishes the state party a successful and productive convention where a united GOP advances conservative and constitutionally based principles,” said Pearlman.
But Wyoming GOP officials aren’t buying it. They say Gordon is using the “prior commitment” excuse to avoid the event.
“Nope, he knew about the convention, everybody knew about the convention,” Wyoming GOP Chair Frank Eathorne told Cowboy State Daily.
State GOP officials point to a strained relationship with the governor that became evident last fall when the party issued a vote of no confidence against Gordon for comments he made at Harvard University where the governor said he wants Wyoming to reduce its carbon output to fight climate change.
Most of the Wyoming GOP supports the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a group of farther right state House legislators that have loudly criticized Gordon, particularly over vetoes he made to certain bills during the recent legislative session.
Those decisions triggered a censure against Gordon, which is expected to be brought up during the convention this weekend as proposal for the state party to adopt, which could be finalized Saturday.
A censure is considered a formal condemnation against someone but holds no legal binding.
The Wyoming GOP made national headlines in 2021 when it censured former congresswoman Liz Cheney.
