Lisa Kinney, Former State Senator, Throws Hat In Ring For U.S. House

A Laramie attorney who served in the Wyoming Senate for a decade many years ago has announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representative as a Democrat

Kinney served in the Wyoming Senate from 1984 to 1994. She served as the Senate Minority Leader from 1992-1994. She is a native of Laramie. Kinney is a lawyer, former president of the Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce and is also a photographer.

She's also the former Director of the Albany County Library.

While she served in the legislature and is running for the House as a Democrat, she says she also registered as a Republican at one point.

In a news release, Kinney says “I am proud to be a Wyomingite because of our ethical values. I believe in the Cowboy Code of the West---honesty, hard work and helping your neighbor.”  Kinney continued, “In Wyoming, everyone works together and ‘neighbor is a verb.’ “Quoting Rod Miller”. “My core value is investing in the people of Wyoming, not Washington.” Kinney said. “We are independent and proud.” Kinney wants to go back to the America and Wyoming “we love.” 

She goes on to say. “We are being bankrupted by national policies. We can’t afford food because of the tariffs. We pay more than $4 a gallon for gas due to a war not authorized by Congress. The ACA subsidies were terminated so more than 11,000 people in Wyoming have no health insurance or are paying ridiculous amounts. We must wait until age 40 to purchase a $450,000 house: Absurd. We must pay immediately for student loans and not receive UW money because Congress deleted these programs. Even two incomes are not enough anymore,” Kinney concluded

In her release, Kinney was also critical of proposals to sell public lands. “There are multiple bills to take Wyoming public lands away from us, including several from Harriet Hageman. Again, this is not why we vote for our Representatives and Senators—we need to place individuals in Congress who believe in the sanctity of our property. Wyomingites are independent and need to make our own decisions about our land—not just follow what the federal government demands of us.” 

Kinney Says She Is Called "The Robin Hood Candidate"

Kinney says some call her the Congressional Robin Hood because one of my options will eliminate taxes for families earning under $100,000 and a second bill will impose a 4% tax applied on individuals and corporations earning more than $1,000,000 until the war ends.”  Kinney continued, “Other candidates seek presidential endorsement and follow Washington goals. I look at political change and how it affects us. All changes are not good.  All federal values are not good. I want to be your representative and look out for us.”  

Kinney won't have an easy task being elected to congress as  a Democrat from ruby-red Wyoming.

That hasn't happened since Teno Roncalio of Rock Springs was elected in 1976. But on the other hand, Kinney may not face a primary that is nearly so crowded as on the Republican side, where at last count not less than ten candidates have said they are running. With the candidate filing period starting on May 14 and running through the 29th, that list could potentially get even longer. Then again, the number could go down as less-serious candidates or those who can't raise money drop out.

The incumbent, Harriet Hageman is running for the U.S. Senate Seat being vacated by Cynthia Lummis