Election 2026:
Statewide Candidate Questionnaire Responses

Wyoming’s statewide elected officials help decide how the state invests in water, sewer, roads, and other infrastructure needed to build more homes.

We asked candidates for Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction how they would address Wyoming’s housing shortage. Read their responses below.

Governor

Eric Barlow *Endorsed*
Megan Degenfelder
Curt Blake

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Steve Harshman *Endorsed*
Chad Auer
Tom Kelly

Treasurer

Curt Meier *Endorsed*

Secretary of State

Robert Short *Endorsed*
Bryan McCarty
Qwenton Eagle Oviatt

Auditor

Kristi Racines

Wyoming Neighbors for Housing has decided to not make an endorsement in this race.

Eric Barlow - *Endorsed*

  • Wyoming’s housing shortage comes down to supply and demand. In many communities, strong demand is colliding with limited available land, high construction costs and the expense of infrastructure.

    At the same time, communities have legitimate concerns about growth and change. Housing solutions cannot be imposed from Cheyenne or designed without regard for local character. State and local leaders must work with employers, builders, nonprofits and residents to increase housing while respecting each community’s values and vision for the future.

    This has to be a collective effort. Wyoming cannot maintain strong, thriving and vibrant communities unless teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, young families and seniors can afford to live in the places they serve.

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  • SLIB (State Lands and Investments Board) should begin by listening to communities and responding when they identify housing as a local priority. That requires a transparent process, clear criteria and meaningful collaboration with local leaders, residents, employers, builders and nonprofits.

    SLIB can help address the infrastructure costs that often keep housing from moving forward, including water, sewer, roads and site development. Consensus grants can be an important tool when communities agree on a shared need and have a practical plan.

    The Board of Land Commissioners should also more actively explore appropriate state lands near city limits or existing services for responsible housing development. Any proposal should reflect community support, protect the long-term value of state trust lands and fit the area’s vision for growth. Wyoming also has an opportunity to use short-term investment tools that strengthen local banks and expand lending capacity for mortgages, construction and community development, while continuing to earn strong returns and keep more capital working in Wyoming.

  • Wyoming’s housing challenge is too large for any one developer, community or state program to solve alone. Local governments, developers, real estate professionals, employers and residents all bring valuable experience to the table. The state should help connect that expertise with the investment needed to turn locally supported plans into housing.

    WCDA programs should be reviewed to determine whether eligibility can be responsibly expanded for moreWyoming families and projects. The state can also invest alongside businesses and communities to close financing gaps that prevent otherwise viable housing projects from moving forward. We should examine regulations, mitigation fees and other costs that may unintentionally discourage development, while respecting local authority and the values of each community. No two Wyoming communities face exactly the same housing challenges. The best solutions will be developed close to home.

Megan Degenfelder

  • The most significant factor is that housing supply has not kept up with Wyoming’s workforce and community needs, resulting in a lack of availability and sky-high prices. In too many places, projects are slowed by infrastructure limits, permitting delays, land constraints, high construction costs, and a lack of private investment. The result is that teachers, nurses, deputies, energy workers, hospitality workers, and young families cannot afford to live in the communities they serve. If young families cannot afford to live in our state, we have no future. I believe we need greater statewide leadership to bring several different housing initiatives together to truly address the issue.

    As governor, I would focus on cutting red tape, protecting private property rights, encouraging local governments to streamline permitting, and making sure state policies do not drive up building costs. I also support targeted infrastructure partnerships, including water, sewer, curbs, and gutters, that help communities prepare land for responsible housing development and become more attractive to developers.

    Wyoming should use limited, accountable tools to leverage private investment, not replace it. The goal should be simple: make it easier for families to live in the communities where they work, while respecting local control and keeping the government from distorting the market or picking winners and losers

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  • As a member of the SLIB, I have supported funding housing projects that are locally supported, fiscally responsible, tied to real workforce needs, demonstrate local deregulation efforts, and focus particularly on infrastructure.

    I would support attainable housing for teachers, first responders, law enforcement officers, energy workers, hospitality workers, and young families, especially when projects leverage private investment and local partnerships. I would oppose luxury subsidies, poorly planned projects, efforts without local support, or proposals that shift excessive risk to taxpayers.

    The goal is not for government to become a landlord, but to create the best possible environment for housing development. As mentioned, I believe stronger leadership is needed at the state level while still respecting local control. This should include a statewide analysis of housing needs, the sharing of best practices for local deregulation, and better coordination of the different funding streams available for housing infrastructure.

    SLIB can help address the infrastructure costs that often keep housing from moving forward, including water, sewer, roads and site development. Consensus grants can be an important tool when communities agree on a shared need and have a practical plan.

    The Board of Land Commissioners should also more actively explore appropriate state lands near city limits or existing services for responsible housing development. Any proposal should reflect community support, protect the long-term value of state trust lands and fit the area’s vision for growth. Wyoming also has an opportunity to use short-term investment tools that strengthen local banks and expand lending capacity for mortgages, construction and community development, while continuing to earn strong returns and keep more capital working in Wyoming.

  • Housing affordability and availability are central to many of Wyoming’s most pressing challenges. From keeping young people in the state to addressing healthcare shortages, housing is a foundational issue.

    As governor, I would reduce red tape, protect private property rights, encourage faster local permitting, and ensure state policies do not raise building costs. I would also support targeted infrastructure partnerships, including water, sewer, curbs, and gutters, to help communities prepare land for responsible housing development and attract private investment.

    I am committed to making it easier for families to live in the communities where they work, while respecting local control and keeping the government from distorting the market or picking winners and losers.

Curt Blake

  • Regulations and costs related to unnecessary participation by outside parties are a major factor. These parties take a cut from every home sale even though they have no real stake in the outcome. At the end of the day, it is the contractor and the consumer who bear the risk—not the realtors, appraisers, inspectors, or others involved in the transaction.

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  • Work with developers to help reduce the red tape associated with local municipalities.

  • Housing can be and is affordable if we work hard to keep all the parasitic professions out of it.

Robert Short

  • Infrastructure costs that are driving the cost of entry level housing to unattainable levels.

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  • Work with communities to expand the infrastructure needed for housing through public-private partnerships. These partnerships should help finance essential infrastructure while creating opportunities for local developers and contractors to participate in and benefit from new housing projects.

  • Housing costs have soared since the onset of COVID. While many factors have contributed to the increase, the result is the same: entry-level housing is no longer attainable for many young professionals and families.

    This shortage creates a chain reaction. Employers struggle to fill positions, economic performance suffers, and more people leave the state. Addressing the problem begins with reducing the infrastructure costs developers face when building new housing.

Bryan McCarty

  • Oligarchs

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  • Avoid investments that in any way support real estate ownership by any entity engaging in restricting ownership by homeowners.

  • Property tax relief presently aimed at longtime residential owners should be expanded to new owners.

Qwenton Eagle Oviatt

  • I believe the most significant factor behind Wyoming’s housing shortage is excessive local government regulation, particularly overly restrictive zoning laws and slow, burdensome permitting processes. These rules make it difficult and expensive to build new housing, especially workforce and affordable housing.

    To address this, I support cutting red tape and speeding up the approval process for responsible development. I also believe we need stronger public education so communities better understand the scale of the housing crisis.

    Real progress will require grassroots advocacy and collaboration among residents, builders, and local governments to advance practical solutions that increase housing supply across the state.

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  • The Board should explore long-term ground leases for workforce housing on state trust land where doing so makes strong financial sense. I understand there may be concerns from grazing leaseholders, environmental groups, and those focused strictly on maximizing short-term revenue, and I am committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders.

    Any housing project should move forward only in carefully selected areas where the long-term financial return to Wyoming’s schools and other beneficiaries is competitive with alternative uses. My goal is to be a responsible steward of state trust land while helping address Wyoming’s housing challenges in a balanced and financially sound way.

  • I believe Wyoming’s housing shortage is primarily caused by overly restrictive local zoning and land-use regulations.

    As Secretary of State and a member of the State Loan and Investment Board, I would support practical solutions that increase the supply of workforce housing. I am also committed to collaboration among the stakeholders who use state land. Ranchers, conservationists, developers, and local communities must work together to find balanced solutions that serve Wyoming’s long-term interests.

Steve Harshman *Endorsed*

  • I think it is different in different parts of the state.

    1. Costs of materials/labor.
    2. Regulations/Zoning.
    3.Interest Rates
    4. Rental Purchases.
    5.Lack of Infrastructure
    6. lack of starter homes investment

    This has to be a collective effort. Wyoming cannot maintain strong, thriving and vibrant communities unless teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, young families and seniors can afford to live in the places they serve.

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  • The State Land Board and the State Loan and Investment Board can provide leadership and support through infrastructure investments, funding through the Wyoming Community Development Authority for first-time homebuyers, and long-term leases on appropriate state trust land for housing.

  • I have been a strong advocate for sensible housing policies and for ensuring that government does not add unnecessary costs to home construction.

    We need a fresh look at how to increase housing supply in the right places for Wyoming residents at every stage of life, including young families starting out and seniors looking to downsize. Ultimately, young people need access to housing if they are going to build their lives and remain in Wyoming.

Chad Auer

  • Wyoming’s regulatory landscape, while perhaps well-meaning, frequently hinders market-led growth in the housing sector. Several key factors contribute to this problem.

    Regulatory hurdles, including mechanisms such as the protest petition and inefficient or restrictive approval timelines, increase upfront costs for developers. A lack of coordination between jurisdictions further complicates investment. Significant anti-growth or “not in my backyard” opposition can also make projects financially unfeasible.

    As a result, developers often prioritize neighboring states, depriving Wyoming of the secure and affordable housing needed by critical members of the workforce, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and teachers.

    This has to be a collective effort. Wyoming cannot maintain strong, thriving and vibrant communities unless teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, young families and seniors can afford to live in the places they serve.

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  • The State Lands and Investment Board (SLIB) plays a pivotal role in establishing the framework for practical housing policies across Wyoming. To demonstrate a serious commitment to addressing the state's housing shortage, the Board should authorize grants and other funding opportunities that help local communities modernize and strategically expand essential infrastructure.

    The Board should also support innovative, practical strategies that make responsible use of state assets to increase the supply of affordable housing.

  • The shortage of workforce housing in Wyoming is a fundamental barrier to the state’s prosperity. Without adequate housing, many of our broader goals will remain out of reach.

    This challenge is especially urgent in education. Housing shortages affect student enrollment, make it harder to recruit and retain qualified teachers, and weaken the stability of our communities. If we fail to address these housing challenges, we will also undermine our commitment to providing Wyoming students with a world-class education.

Tom Kelly

  • Building costs and regulations inflate prices out of range for many families.

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  • Assistance in basic housing infrastructure such as water, sewer, and roads.

  • The state's job is to create an environment conducive to allowing developers to meet market demand, not infuse more money directly into a housing market of already inflated prices.

Curt Meier

  • Wyoming’s housing shortage is primarily a supply issue. Recent surveys indicate that the state faces an estimated $6 billion to $8 billion in housing needs over the next 10 to 12 years. Including the full cost of necessary infrastructure could double that amount.

    The scale of this need will place significant pressure on both Wyoming’s financial system and local infrastructure. Our economy depends on teachers, healthcare professionals, first responders, energy workers, hospitality employees, and many others who increasingly struggle to find housing they can afford near where they work.

    Rising construction costs, limited inventory, infrastructure constraints, and population growth have all contributed to the shortage. Because every community is different, solutions must remain flexible and be developed through partnerships among state and local governments, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations.

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  • As a member of the State Loan and Investment Board, I have already supported financing for housing projects, infrastructure, and land. I recognize the importance of workforce housing to Wyoming’s future. Mineral royalty grants and other funding programs for water and infrastructure have helped reduce the burden on local communities.

    The Board should continue evaluating financially sound projects that expand housing opportunities while protecting taxpayer investments. I support investments that leverage local participation, encourage private-sector development, make use of opportunity zones, and provide long-term value for Wyoming communities.

    The Board’s role is to serve as a responsible financial partner by ensuring that projects are sustainable, fiscally prudent, and responsive to demonstrated community needs.

  • Strong communities depend on housing that working families can afford. While the Treasurer does not write housing policy, I believe state government can play an important role by responsibly financing projects that address housing shortages while protecting taxpayers’ investments.

    At the same time, we must continue strengthening Wyoming’s economy by supporting responsible energy development, agriculture, tourism, and other industries that create good-paying jobs. My goal is to ensure Wyoming remains a place where young families can build a life, businesses can find workers, and our children and grandchildren can choose to stay, work, and raise families of their own.

    I have successfully encouraged our investment partners to consider opportunities in Wyoming, and housing may offer additional ways to build partnerships among Wyoming stakeholders and investors.

Kristi Racines

  • It depends on the community, but building costs and interest rates are at the top of my list. In some cases, overly burdensome government regulations also create challenges, and I am encouraged to see many communities working to address those issues.

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  • The Board has consistently supported housing projects when requests involve essential infrastructure such as water, sewer, curbs, and gutters, and it should continue to do so.

    However, the Board currently has no housing-specific funding. With more than $53 million in requests for the $5 million available last fiscal year, the scale of the statewide need is clear. Communities and the Board will need to work with the Legislature to identify a durable solution.

    At the same time, the size of the need does not justify forcing housing projects into funding sources that are not appropriate or consistent with state law and program rules. Even if the Legislature provides additional housing funds, those resources will likely remain limited. The Board should therefore prioritize projects that are well planned, include meaningful local investment, and have a measurable impact on housing supply.

  • Government will never be the sole answer to Wyoming’s housing challenges, but it can create an environment in which communities, developers, and builders can succeed.

    Housing needs vary widely across the state, so success in Cheyenne will look different from success in Upton. Solutions should reflect the needs and circumstances of each community.

    Housing attainability is also essential to keeping young people in Wyoming and giving those who have left a reason to return. Buying a home may never be easy, but it should be possible.