State of the Day - Wyoming

Wyoming originally had an economy based on livestock, which helped earn this sparesely populated state the moniker "Cowboy State." Today, the economy has been based on the state's mineral wealth, which is enough to keep Wyoming's economy humming during tough times. The state also has a sizable tourism industry based on beautiful vistas and wildlife. There is a great mix of tradition and cutting edge technology. Wyoming has the smallest population of any state (the biggest city here, Cheyenne, has less than 56,000 people) and like most small states, personality is very important here. So while the state is conservative and heavily Republican, popular conservative Democrats have been able to win the Governor's Mansion.

2010 was so Republican that Democrats had no chance to win the election to succeed retiring Governor Dave Freudenthal. Republicans continued to dominate everything else and there is no reason to expect this to change.

President – 3 Electoral Votes

Take a wild guess. SAFE REPUBLICAN.

Governor – Dave Freudenthal (D)

Thanks to a quirk in Wyoming Constitutional Law, Freudenthal probably could have successfully challenged the state’s term limit law, but he declined to do so. This left the Governor's Mansion to Republican Matt Mead, who won a 72%-25% victory. In a state this Republican, Mead would have to reach historic levels of failure to fail to win a second term in 2014. SAFE REPUBLICAN.

Senior Senator – Michael Enzi (R)

Check back when Enzi retires. SAFE REPUBLICAN.

Junior Senator – John Barrasso (R)

Barrasso really showed vulnerability after being appointed to the Senate in 2007.* In the 2008, special election for the final four years of the term, Barrasso ran a full point behind Michael Enzi, struggling home with 73%. If Democrats win this seat in 2012, I will really need to rethink my political analysis techniques. SAFE REPUBLICAN.

*Yes, this is sarcasm!

House At-Large – Cynthia Lummis (R)

Democrats almost took this seat in 2006, almost entirely because then Rep. Barbara Cubin seemed determined to alienate as many people as possible. Republicans easily held it when it came open in 2008 and Lummis has not gone out of her way to make like difficult. This will not be a Democratic pickup opportunity anytime soon. SAFE REPUBLICAN.