In your opinion, what is the primary reason WY is so conservative?

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Why is WY so conservative/Republican, in your personal opinion?

[Kingpoleon]

Mormonism and rural population.

[MAINEiac4434]

No minorities.

[Hydera]

Mining economy(Oil, Coal, Gas) which makes a lot of anti-green voters.

Wealthy newcomers from the other Western states.

Rural and religious.

[SingingAnalyst]

I have never been to Wyoming, but I briefly dated someone who was from there. She told me almost every household has a gun. As the violent crime rate in WY is low, I suspect that calls for more gun control in response to high-profile shootings rub a lot of people in WY the wrong way.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

Mormonism and rural population.

Not actually super mormon.

[America Needs R'hllor]

It sounds like the main reasons are guns, oil and "moral values" (see: religious bigotry).

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Mining economy(Oil, Coal, Gas) which makes a lot of anti-green voters.

Wealthy newcomers from the other Western states.

Rural and religious.

Wyoming is about as religious as Connecticut, which isn't to say there isn't cultural conservatism of a sort. 

I don't believe they have all that much in-migration currently either, but perhaps from an earlier time? 

Environmental policy is a contributor, not just because of resource extraction, but also related to farming and ranching that makes people not generally a fan of the EPA and Interior Dept.

Largest factor probably comes down to a matter of culture, with emphases on individual effort, patriotism, and a sense that urban liberals really have no clue about life out there and should mind their own business.

[Skunk]

A lot of "fly-over" states like Wyoming are seen as conservative because the national Democratic party doesn't connect with them. The party is seen as a party for hipsters and minorities and not "real" Americans, whereas the national Republican party's approach of more family values and small-town culture resonates more with states with low populations like Wyoming.

[Hydera]

Mining economy(Oil, Coal, Gas) which makes a lot of anti-green voters.

Wealthy newcomers from the other Western states.

Rural and religious.

Wyoming is about as religious as Connecticut, which isn't to say there isn't cultural conservatism of a sort. 

I don't believe they have all that much in-migration currently either, but perhaps from an earlier time? 

Environmental policy is a contributor, not just because of resource extraction, but also related to farming and ranching that makes people not generally a fan of the EPA and Interior Dept.

Largest factor probably comes down to a matter of culture, with emphases on individual effort, patriotism, and a sense that urban liberals really have no clue about life out there and should mind their own business.

Hemmm checking some things, Wyoming is definitely not as religious as i thought but your right that in place of lack of religiosity is cultural conservatism.

[vanguard96]

I went to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons over 20 years ago for a family vacation. I had a great time there. Of course that area and the national parks are a tourist attraction. Actual residents tell a different story.

Immigration, street crime and other aspects affecting much of the rest of the country has not reached there with the same degree of intensity. Because it is highly rural the traditional aspects of society have stayed more dominant in the people's every day lives.

I don't view it as racist or backwards. Obviously it is not Utah so there aren't particularly a lot of Mormons.

[Person Man]

Mining economy(Oil, Coal, Gas) which makes a lot of anti-green voters.

Wealthy newcomers from the other Western states.

Rural and religious.

Wyoming is about as religious as Connecticut, which isn't to say there isn't cultural conservatism of a sort. 

I don't believe they have all that much in-migration currently either, but perhaps from an earlier time? 

Environmental policy is a contributor, not just because of resource extraction, but also related to farming and ranching that makes people not generally a fan of the EPA and Interior Dept.

Largest factor probably comes down to a matter of culture, with emphases on individual effort, patriotism, and a sense that urban liberals really have no clue about life out there and should mind their own business.

Something like that. Its about proprty rights and keeping out anyone...so you could say "immigration".  Basically Wyoming tries to maintain itself as the place where men can still be islands, even if it means using Government to enforce it. They are great with Government, they just think its the devil when it tries to allow other groups or industries to move in.

That is probably how Fruedenthal won. He ran to the right of Bebout in a way because Bebout wanted to attract Big Businesses into HQing in Casper.

If the National Republicans try to do vaguely pro-Business policies in Wyoming, it may be welcome at first but when range land and hunting grounds and National "Lands of Many Uses" are sold off, and people can't herd or hunt anymore, there may be an openning for Ds running a dark horse Trump-like figure who runs from the left and tge right at the same time.

Then again, the window for such opportunities might be closing as GOP ethnic voting moves the state to align with the national GOP...there was even a personhood law passed this year where abortionists must allow the opportunity for pre-abortion check ups on the fetus and making it a felony to sell aborti. Anecdotally, I remember some kids that were just Sanchez's "Blue Blazer" kids in high school that became religious nut jobs by the end of college... this is a parallel situation to where inner city communities, once ideologically independent, are aligning to campus culture.

[TDAS04]

Wyoming is a lot like western South Dakota.  Lots of emphasis on "freedom", guns, "get the government off my back" ideology.  The sparse and heavily white population definitely plays a role.  Also, as much as they claim to value "individual liberty", they are not really socially libertarian, even if they are relative to Southern and Midwestern conservatives.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I thought Wyoming was one of the least religious Republican states?

[TDAS04]

I thought Wyoming was one of the least religious Republican states?

Yeah, but they're still culturally conservative. 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No black, browns, or "others" (from a census form).

White, gun lovin', gummit hatin', beautiful state.