(Cheyenne, WY) – Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) today, February 17, signed Executive Order 2026-01 prohibiting the solicitation, delivery, or acceptance of campaign contributions on property where state business is conducted, such as state office buildings, and commercial buildings where the state leases offices, including the Wyoming State Capitol and Capitol Complex.
The Governor’s Executive Order does not apply to those areas of the Capitol that, by law, are managed by the legislative or judicial branches, such as offices of the Legislative Service Office, committee rooms, and the Senate and House Chambers.
The Governor’s decision followed a recently announced criminal investigation in Laramie County stemming from public reports and photographs showing checks being distributed by a self-identified “conservative political activist” inside the Wyoming House of Representatives chamber last week while legislation supported by the same conservative political activist was pending before lawmakers.
“Our Capitol belongs to the people of Wyoming, and even the appearance of inappropriateness should never be ignored. My duty is to act to ensure the highest level of integrity is enforced for the people of this great state. I am doing so today in the spaces I have control over,” Governor Gordon said. “I, like most Wyomingites, believe the House and Senate floors are hallowed places for doing the People’s business, and should never serve as a campaign headquarters. Legislators should not be put in the position of being personally approached by lobbyists, activists or others with campaign contributions during the legislative session or when they are working in their official capacities, especially in state-controlled office or meeting spaces. I thank the Senate for taking immediate action to prohibit this behavior in their chambers.”
The Executive Order will remain in effect until the Governor, as Chairman of the State Building Commission, can bring the matter before the Commission, where, by a majority vote of the Commission, it could become a matter of permanent rulemaking.
“Citizens of Wyoming deserve transparency in their government. They deserve confidence that the votes cast in their Capitol are grounded in policy and principle, not political or monetary transactions,” Governor Gordon said. “This executive order is about protecting public trust.”
The Executive Order takes effect immediately.