WyoFile

ELECTION GUIDE 2026

Wyoming's candidates for federal, statewide and legislative offices.

Last update: Jul 10, 2026 - 04:08 PM
J.R. Riggins
Wyoming Republican Candidate/ WY House District 59

J.R. Riggins

IncumbentCandidate Status: ➡️ Active

Active candidates for WY House District 59

On the Issues

The answers below were solicited from candidates via a written questionnaire created by WyoFile reporters and editors in June 2026. Responses are presented exactly as submitted, without fact-checking, wordsmithing or editing for grammar, punctuation or spelling errors.

Legislative candidates were invited to respond to the questionnaire several times by email and by phone. Out of fairness to the candidates who met the deadline, WyoFile will not add responses after the guide's publication.

Where do you live currently? How long have you lived there? How long have you lived in Wyoming? Where were you born?

Since 2018 my wife and I have live on Jim Bridger Ave. in Casper. We previously lived on the west side of Casper in a home we purchased in 1988. I first arrived in Casper in 1979 for a summer job at the end of my freshman year at the University of South Dakota. I returned in the spring of 1980 and was married here in 198. I was born in Kadoka, SD.

What age will you be on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026?

66

Please tell the voters about yourself including your background and qualifications.

Although I arrived in Casper from South Dakota for a pipeline construction job in 1979, I actually spent each summer from 1975 to 1978 working for the Rimrock Ranch west of Cody. Casper is where I entered the natural gas industry, met and married my wife, raised our children, and am now retired. I spent more than 40 years in the natural gas industry, gaining extensive experience in safety, environmental compliance, engineering standards, and federal and state regulations. I've also have decades of experience addressing public land access policy and served over 15 years in multiple leadership roles within the Natrona County Republican Party, helping craft bylaws, resolutions, and policies that remain in effect today. The experience I've gained during my first term as representation is immeasurable and will be of enormous benefit to my constituents and myself.

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Wyoming today? As a legislator, how would you address them?

While the current administration is focused on addressing our energy needs, we also want to ensure America regains its energy independence. Wyoming is uniquely positioned to play an important role in achieving both. Our challenge is to accomplish this while preserving Wyoming's heritage. I believe we have the resources and technology to do both if we can assure Wyoming citizens that they will be equal partners in making these decisions. If we want to reduce the impact of shrinking revenue in one sector, we need to increase our production in another. As an advocate for abundant, clean-burning natural gas, I would be doing our state a disservice if I didn't encourage advancements in natural-gas-fired electricity generation to be part of the solution. On-demand electrical generation that doesn't conflict with Wyoming's open spaces is a good fit.

We asked WyoFile readers to rank issues that are important to them, and healthcare costs and access topped the list. What can the Legislature do to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to Wyomingites?

A couple of suggestions I've had depend on changes to federal tax law, which are nearly impossible to achieve; I think a broad expansion of healthcare savings accounts could provide an avenue to change the relationship between consumers and providers by eliminating the intermediary for ordinary medical goods and services. For this to happen, several major changes are required. Everyone is eligible regardless of insurance status, with high contribution limits, plus rollovers from other tax-deferred accounts, and, lastly, the account can be used on behalf of any person the account holder chooses. Please forward this to the House Ways and Means Committee, please. If "affordable" healthcare means inviting half a million more people to live in Wyoming so that premium prices can fall, I think it will be a tough sell.

Do you support efforts to sell or transfer public land in Wyoming? How do you plan to ensure that state and federal land is managed in the best interest of the people of Wyoming?

I do not support broad efforts to dispose of federal public lands solely to transfer ownership.

Wyoming has successfully sold or exchanged state lands when doing so benefited trust beneficiaries and Wyoming citizens. The Kelly Parcel sale demonstrated that exceptional value can be realized. Exchanges can also improve management, public access, and ownership patterns. These transactions are lengthy and should be evaluated on their merits.

The Wyoming Constitution guides what is in the best interests of the people by requiring that state trust lands support designated beneficiaries while balancing other public interests. For federal lands, decisions should be made as close as possible to affected communities, with input from citizens, local governments, and state officials. My goal is to maintain access, support multiple uses, protect important resources, and provide a fair return to Wyoming taxpayers.

No two Wyoming counties are the same when it comes to how they generate revenue. As a legislator, how would you approach the public's desire for property tax relief with local revenue needs?

Any property tax reform package has to account for the differing property tax environments between counties. These differences are well documented and I expect a see a formula that will account for it. Our original intent in 2025 was to backfill most of the anticipated reductions. It didn't happen, but I expect backfill to be re-considered.I cannot tell you what form that will take. We still have two more meetings in the Revenue Committee and I urge anyone interested to stay tuned. I am concerned about the 4% cap and credit a cap with the one instrument that prevents property tax revolts from recurring. I believe a reasonable cap is essential.

What role, if any, should the Wyoming Legislature play in economic development?

Article 16 of the Wyoming Constitution repeatedly addresses the legislature's scope in economic development. I think we've taken a pray-and-spray approach over the last few years, hoping that some ironclad result will prove the rightness of past legislative decisions. I expect some notable reform to this model in the 2027 session and certainly re-appropriation and updated guidance for Community Consensus Grants. For me, it was important that, for projects already underway, the operations staff managing them were available until their completion. Having experience in project management on an industrial scale, I know that the project isn't finished until the paperwork is done, and it is likely that completion would still be underway in 2028.

Explain your values when it comes to campaign donations. Does Wyoming's system for monitoring campaign donations and expenditures need reform?

My experience is WYCIS is pretty straightforward albeit the UI isn't very intuitive, but maybe donations and expenditures over my campaign aren't very complicated. Perhaps when this campaign season is over, my perspective may change. I'm not that familiar with controversy about our reporting system.

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About this Project

WyoFile produced this guide with coding and web development by Thomas Musselman, editing by Tennessee Watson and production assistance by Calla Shosh. Contact Tennessee Watson with questions, corrections or suggestions at tennessee@wyofile.com.

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