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Political ads · 2026 · WY
Wyoming Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Eric Barlow (Republican), Ken Casner (Democrat) and Rebecca Bextel (Constitution) are the candidates for governor of Wyoming in the November 3, 2026 general election. Semblen has analyzed 26 ads in this race; 13 used at least one manipulation technique, most often glittering generalities and appeal to prejudice.
Eric Barlow (REP), Ken Casner (DEM), Rebecca Bextel (CON). On the ballot as listed by Wyoming Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidates. 26 ads analyzed, 13 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08.
Findings
As of 2026-10-08. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
- Ads analyzed
- 26 · started running between 2026-07-14 and 2026-10-06
- With at least one technique
- 13 of 26 (50%)
- Most common techniques
- Glittering Generalities · 10 adsAppeal to Prejudice · 7 adsSlogans · 4 ads
- Reported Meta spend
- $27,700–36,465 on all ads, $26,400–33,680 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
- Example
- “defend our freedoms” — Glittering Generalities, paid for by REBECCA FOR WYOMING · the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
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Semblen LLC · 5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
Who is running these ads
By sponsor (7)
| Paid for by | Ads | With at least one technique | Most common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barlow For Wyoming | 15 | 7 of 15 (47%) | Glittering Generalities (6), Appeal to Prejudice (4), Slogans (2) |
| REBECCA FOR WYOMING | 5 | 3 of 5 | Appeal to Prejudice (3), Glittering Generalities (2), Name Calling (2) |
| Wyoming Housing Advocates | 2 | 0 of 2 | |
| Honor Wyoming Foundation | 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION ACTION FUND | 1 | 1 of 1 | False Urgency (1), Glittering Generalities (1) |
| Open Range Record LLC | 1 | 1 of 1 | Loaded Language (1) |
| Protect Wyoming | 1 | 1 of 1 | Black-and-White Fallacy (1), Flag-Waving (1), Glittering Generalities (1) |
Decide what counts
Not everyone would call every technique manipulation. Untick the ones you'd call ordinary persuasion and the count updates.
50% of the 26 ads here use at least one of the techniques ticked below (13 ads).
- Feel-good words with no concrete meaning. More on glittering generalities, with examples →
- Playing on dislike of a group. More on appeal to prejudice, with examples →
- A catchy phrase in place of an argument.
- Only two choices when there are more. More on black-and-white fallacy, with examples →
- Wrapping a position in patriotism.
- Words picked for the feeling, not the facts. More on loaded language, with examples →
- Pressure to act before you think. More on false urgency, with examples →
- A label in place of an argument. More on name calling, with examples →
- Casting a dispute as a threat to national independence. More on sovereignty rhetoric, with examples →
- "everyone's doing it" in place of a reason. More on bandwagon appeal, with examples →
- Hinting at a hidden plot without evidence. More on conspiracy appeal, with examples →
Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 38% of ads.
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Wyoming's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
26 ads, newest first.
Showing the 15 ads paid for by Barlow For Wyoming. Show all 26 ads
Come by and say hi! We’ll be in the Grey’s River Room
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Thank you Representative Wylie for all your support!
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Follow the Wyoming Governor race
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Semblen LLC · 5900 Balcones Drive STE 100, Austin, TX 78731
I have said all along that I am not running against anyone. I am running for Wyoming, and the people of Wyoming are showing us they believe in what we are building. This campaign has now made history, raising more than $1.65 million, including over $1.2 million from more than 1,700 individual Wyoming donors across all 23 counties. But the part that means the most to Kelly and me is why. Wyoming people believe we can stay strong, hold on to what makes Wyoming Wyoming, and build a future our kids and grandkids can choose to be part of. From the beginning, we have done this one community and one conversation at a time. That is how we got here, and that is how we are going to finish. Kelly and I are incredibly grateful.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses vague, emotionally positive language about strength, identity, and the future without specifying any concrete policies or actions — for example: 'stay strong, hold on to what makes Wyoming Wyoming'
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase invokes a shared in-group identity ('Wyoming people') to foster a sense of collective belonging and distinction from outsiders — for example: 'Wyoming people believe'
Glittering Generalities
Appeal to Prejudice
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This campaign has taken me to communities all across Wyoming, and I’m grateful for every handshake, conversation and chance to listen along the way. I’m running for governor because I believe leadership starts by showing up and staying connected to the people you serve. On August 18, I’d be honored to have your vote.
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‘Staying Wyoming’ means we do not tolerate outside influence trying to manipulate or drown out our Wyoming voices. Opposition or not, this is plain wrong. I pledged a year ago to run a clean race and that hasn’t changed. #peacemakerpledge
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'our Wyoming voices' creates an in-group identity contrasted against threatening outsiders, implying that outside voices are illegitimate — for example: 'our Wyoming voices'
Loaded Language: The word 'manipulate' is emotionally charged, implying sinister intent by outside forces — for example: 'manipulate or drown out'
Sovereignty Rhetoric: The framing invokes self-determination and non-interference by outside forces to deflect from legitimate political opposition — for example: 'do not tolerate outside influence'
Black-and-White Fallacy: The phrase 'Opposition or not, this is plain wrong' dismisses any nuance, presenting the situation as simply wrong regardless of context or argument — for example: 'Opposition or not, this is plain wrong'
Appeal to Prejudice
Loaded Language
Sovereignty Rhetoric
Black-and-White Fallacy
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We have been incredibly blessed by the support of so many people throughout this campaign. Two of them are Ann Simpson, who served as our honorary co-chair, and Diana Enzi, who continues to serve as our campaign co-chair. Two women who have given so much to Wyoming. Since this letter was written, we have lost Ann, but not the example she set. She loved Wyoming deeply and believed in treating people with kindness, respect, and integrity. Kelly and I remain grateful for her friendship and support, and for Diana's continued leadership throughout this campaign. Wyoming is a special place, but it didn’t get that way by accident. It has been shaped and strengthened by generations of people who understood the importance of service, community, and looking out for one another. Ann and Diana know that, and so many of you have shared that same belief with us throughout this campaign. I hope you’ll take a moment to read the letter they shared earlier this year. https://www.thesheridanpress.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-what-wyoming-conservatism-was-meant-to-be/article_2c46077a-da8a-4f42-8e46-65712229fbe9.html
Flag-Waving: Patriotic, religious, or in-group identity invoked to validate a position.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive concepts like 'service', 'community', and 'looking out for one another' are invoked as noble values without any specific meaning or policy substance — for example: 'service, community, and looking out for one another'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase implies widespread shared belief among supporters to create a sense of collective momentum and belonging — for example: 'so many of you have shared that same belief with us'
Flag-Waving
Slogans
Glittering Generalities
Bandwagon Appeal
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Kelly and I have lived in Wyoming, worked in Wyoming and served Wyoming. We’ve raised our family here, made decisions about schools and healthcare, signed the front of a paycheck, and worked alongside producers and rural communities. As a Marine Corps veteran, veterinarian, rancher, small business owner and legislative leader, I’ve spent my career solving practical problems. Those experiences have prepared me to lead Wyoming with an understanding of our people, our industries and our values. On August 18, I’d be honored to have your vote.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase 'our people, our industries and our values' uses vague, emotionally positive language to evoke community identity without specifying any concrete meaning — for example: 'our values'
Glittering Generalities
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There are people who have never set foot in Wyoming trying to decide what Wyoming becomes. Outside money. Outside agendas. Outside voices. Wyoming’s future belongs to the people who live here, work here, raise their families here, and care about this state every single day. We know what it takes to keep our communities strong and make sure the next generation can still build a life here. Those decisions should be made by Wyoming people. Stay strong, stay Wyoming. Vote August 18.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence implies that outsiders have no right to influence Wyoming's future, exploiting in-group/out-group identity by framing decisions as belonging only to those with a physical connection to the state — for example: 'people who have never set foot in Wyoming trying to decide what Wyoming becomes'
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive language about 'strong communities' and the 'next generation' that sounds noble but lacks specific policy substance — for example: 'keep our communities strong'
Appeal to Prejudice
Glittering Generalities
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Some of the best conversations happen sitting across the table from someone you’ve known a long time. That’s one of the things I love about traveling Wyoming: catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and hearing what’s on people’s minds. I’m grateful for every conversation along the way, and on August 18, I’d be honored to have your vote.
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Come by and say hello!
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Come by the gazebo at Gardenia and say hi!
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Wyoming’s public lands are not for sale. Today, my campaign launched our first statewide TV and radio ad because this is exactly where our focus is: solving the issues that matter in Wyoming. These lands are more than scenery. They are part of our story, our economy, our way of life, and our future. They support our ranchers, sportsmen, families, and communities. As governor, I will stand firm against outside efforts to sell them off and make sure Wyoming, not Washington, has the final say. We are going to keep showing up, telling the truth, doing the work, and getting results for Wyoming.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Glittering Generalities: Vague emotionally positive phrases like 'our story' and 'our way of life' are used to create a sense of shared noble identity without specific meaning — for example: 'our story, our economy, our way of life, and our future'
Appeal to Prejudice: The repeated use of 'our' invokes an in-group identity, implying a shared community whose values and heritage are at stake — for example: our story, our economy, our way of life, and our future and our ranchers, sportsmen, families, and communities.
Sovereignty Rhetoric: The sentence invokes state self-determination and local control over federal authority to frame the issue as an us-vs-them sovereignty matter — for example: "Wyoming, not Washington, has the final say".
Slogans
Glittering Generalities
Appeal to Prejudice
Sovereignty Rhetoric
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Wyoming has told us rural healthcare is one of their key concerns. I think we can seek solutions together, the Wyoming way.
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Leadership isn't measured by what we cut, but what we build. I'm running for Wyoming. Better schools, stronger communities, and a state that continues to create opportunity for the next generation. Early voting is underway, and the Primary Election is August 18. I'd appreciate your vote.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses vague, emotionally positive framing around 'leadership' and 'build' without any specific meaning or policy substance — for example: Leadership isn't measured by what we cut, but what we build.
Glittering Generalities
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What this page is
- An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in WY and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names WY's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
- The candidates are the ones certified for the November ballot, from the source linked at the top. Governors are state offices, so there are no FEC filings behind this page: no money figures, and outside groups are placed on a side only when they are a campaign or a party committee.
- Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
- A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
- Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. The check runs once and its result is shown to everyone afterwards. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
- Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
- Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.