James Byrd

James Byrd is a Cheyenne native and a grandfather whose family roots in Wyoming reach back before statehood.¹² His mother, Liz Byrd, became the first Black woman elected to Wyoming's legislature, serving first in the House and then the Senate.³

He attended Cheyenne's Central High School and studied geology, geophysics and computer science at the University of Wyoming.² An oil exploration company recruited him from college, beginning a career that took him around Wyoming, elsewhere in North America and beyond.² An industry downturn brought a change of direction into network engineering, computer security and long distance digital communications.²

Byrd represented House District 44 from 2009 to 2019, serving a portion of Cheyenne.³ His colleagues elected him Democratic minority whip in 2013 and minority caucus chairman in 2015.⁴ His committee assignments included local government financing, legislative audits, minerals, business and economic development.⁴ He has also served as president of the Southeast Wyoming Economic Development District.⁴

His Senate platform opposes selling public lands and calls for rolling back tariffs, repairing trade relationships and restoring congressional oversight of the executive branch.² He favors research into nuclear power, renewables and other energy technologies as part of Wyoming's economic future.² He faces Republican Harriet Hageman on November 3 for the seat Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis is leaving.⁵