Red-state liberals bask in a sea of blue at Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO—Tuesday night at the 2024 Democratic National Convention became a full-circle “healing moment” for Laramie resident Artemis Langford. The Democratic delegate for Wyoming watched from the seats of the United Center as former President Barack Obama graced the stage.

Raised in a staunchly Republican home, Langford recalled her anger in January 2009 as she watched Obama’s inauguration. Now, in Chicago, she basked in her first convention.

“It’s been such a joy to meet so many wonderful Democrats at this oasis, this awesome meeting point,” Langford said.

Even so, for many Wyoming Democrats, it can be challenging to find people with similar political values from their home state. 

There are only 24,751 registered Democrats — just over 11% of registered voters — in Wyoming as of Aug. 1, 2024, according to the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office.

By contrast, Republicans’ 180,815 registered voters account for nearly 81% of the state’s voting base.

“If you can’t appreciate this experience, you shouldn’t be here because it’s powerful to be around all these people who have a common goal, [who] have a positive outlook, who want to do some good for everybody,” said Wyoming delegate Lorraine Saulino-Klein. “It’s jazzy.”

Many of the Wyoming delegation’s interactions during the four-day assembly were unconventional for them. Langford and Saulino-Klein hail from Albany County, one of the few Wyoming communities in which Democrats are reliably competitive. 

Most of the other delegates, however, are surrounded at home by political rivals. Vickie Goodwin of Douglas, for example, recalled the physical and verbal abuse heaped on her late husband for cross-dressing.

“I’m not afraid to be a Democrat in Wyoming, but it’s kind of nice to be [at the DNC] and feel the energy surrounding everything here,” Goodwin said. “It’s a real sense of belonging.”

The Wyoming delegation made a name for itself at the convention despite its size. Allyson Harvey of Ranchester detailed a typical bus ride for the delegation from the hotels.

“Us Wyoming people tend to be a little bit louder,” Harvey said. “We go [on a bus], and somebody turns around and goes, ‘I knew it was you guys! I knew it was Wyoming!’”

Vice chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party, Erin O’Doherty of Laramie, used her time in Chicago to learn about other rural states.

“Most states have rural parts that are more like Wyoming, but like Andy Beshear, he runs a rural state, and he knows how to talk to people, and Governor Walz, he knows how to talk to people and explain,” she said.

In a similar fashion, state Rep. Michael Yin (D-Jackson) used the opportunity to teach others about the Democrats in Wyoming.

“My goal as a delegate is to not only reflect the values that all Democrats share across the country, but also bring forth what are Wyoming values and Wyoming Democrats’ values that we can bring to the nation,” Yin said.

A novelty to be around others who share viewpoints, this year’s convention proved a rare opportunity for Wyoming’s delegates to present their political ideology and for unrestrained self-expression.

“In Wyoming, sometimes you want to say something out loud, and then you think, ‘Wait, I don’t want to offend anyone,’” Harvey said. “I’m like, ‘I’m here. I don’t have to be calm. I can be who I am.’”