The Wyoming Democratic Party is represented by two groups; elected party leadership, and executive staff members who perform the day-to-day functions of the party. If we can be of service, please email us directly!
A fifth generation Wyoming native, Joe has long been active in Democratic politics in the Equality State. Before he was old enough to register to vote, Joe was knocking on doors for local Democratic candidates in his hometown of Rock Springs, a union and Democratic stronghold. In 2002, he received his first statewide campaign experience working as an intern for Ron Akin, the Democratic candidate for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district.
Throughout college, he continued to volunteer for numerous campaigns and progressive causes .In 2008, with support from family and friends, Joe made the decision to seek election to Wyoming House District 48. That November he was elected as the youngest member of the state legislature. During his legislative tenure, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as House Minority Caucus Chairman and was twice named “Legislator of the Year” by the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association.
After leaving the legislature, Joe was elected to serve as Chairman of the Sweetwater County Democratic Party in 2015, and in 2016 was hired as the Operations Director of Greene for Congress. Joe lives in Rock Springs, Wyoming with his wife, Erin, their two rescue dogs, Chapter and Molly, and Henry the Yellow Cat. When he’s not immersed in politics, you can find him fishing, enjoying public lands, or playing jazz piano.
Erin O'Doherty came home to Wyoming more than 27 years ago to work as a wildlife ecologist. She is a lifelong activist who cares deeply about providing a healthy, prosperous future for all people for generations to come. Since retiring from her science career she has been applying her database skills to help non-profit organizations and electoral politics.
Truett is a third generation Wyoming native. He grew up in Cheyenne and graduated high school in Pine Bluffs. In 2005 he was accepted into the Wyoming Joint Apprenticeship Training for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415.
In 2009, he graduated at the top of his class and was nominated and elected as Recording Secretary of the Local. He retained thatposition until 2015 when he was elected Vice President. In 2011, he married his amazing wife Rachel, who is a speech therapist in the school district.
Truett got his start in politics when he was a third year apprentice when he went to his first AFL-CIO state convention. He has been to the capitol and lobbied to keep license laws within the electrical industry for Wyoming, as well as to keep project labor agreements (PLAs) for publicly funded construction jobs available for use.Truett looks forward to working with the WDP and helping working people in the state.
Chris “Caskey” Russell was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He received his BA and MA in English from Western Washington University, and his PhD from the University of Oregon.A few of the many jobs he’s held include roofer, concrete worker, construction worker, janitor, forest firefighter, musician, and professor.
Caskey is an enrolled member of the Tlingit Indian Tribe ofAlaska, and teaches courses in American Indian Studies at the University of Wyoming, where he is currently an Associate Professor in English and Director of American Indian Studies. He ismarried with two sons.
Caskey's hobbies include playing and coaching soccer, playing guitar and singing with his band Moral Panic, and hiking/fishing/camping in the wonderful Wyoming outdoors. He’s lived in Laramie since 2004.
Jessica Sell Chambers, B.A. International Studies; M.A. Education, is a reporter for Planet Jackson Hole, an education consultant, and associate of Jackson Hole United, a social justice advocacy non-profit providing a forum and tools for open dialogue affecting the community. Jessica is married to Reed, a fifth-grade teacher, and they are parents of her 17-year-old brother, Luke, and two-year-old son, McCrae - who can be seen driving toy dump trucks through Dem executive committee meetings or snoozing in a backpack while she participates.
Jessica was raised on picket lines by a local Teamster and a nurse and understands the value of taking care of working people, the backbone of our state and country. As a newly elected committeewoman to the DNC, she is working hard to get Wyoming the attention it deserves.
Her favorite quote: "A rising tide lifts all boats; when everyone has enough, all of us are more secure, prosperous, and healthy."
Jon A. Gardzelewski, AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate Lecturer in Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming, and a licensed Architect in the state of Wyoming.
Jon represents the department of Civil and Architectural Engineering on UW Faculty Senate, is on the Board of Directors for the Wyoming US Green Building Council (USGBC), and chairs the national Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) Academic Council.He has years of leading edge industry experience in computer modeling and simulation for building energy efficiency, which he incorporates into both his teaching and research. He helped found UW-BERG (Building Energy Research Group) where he focuses on zero and positive energy design and engineering, for which he has given countless talks on his projects and his research.
Jon was born and raised in Laramie, WY, by a family of advocates including a father whose support and allegiance to the Black 14 was recognized 45 years later, and a mother who dedicated her life to helping the underprivileged. As National Committeeman, Jon's motivation for involvement in Democratic Party leadership rose out of the 2016 election cycle.
His 3-word political motto is borrowed from his favorite architect, Richard Rogers: Transparency, Legibility, and Flexibility.
True freedom.
True freedom is a value that everyone in Wyoming shares.
We believe true freedom exists when everyone has a fair shot at success. True freedom exists with a free public education. True freedom exists beyond the crippling burden of student loans. True freedom exists when we have affordable, quality healthcare. True freedom exists when you can’t get fired or evicted simply because of who you are. True freedom exists in a livable wage.
And for me, true freedom means that No Trespassing signs will never block my path onto public lands that I hunt, fish, and hike.
The Wyoming Democratic Party is the only organization in the world with the singular mission of electing Wyoming Democratic candidates who fight to make sure everyone enjoys true freedom. That’s mission that I am honored to be part of.
Thanks for taking time to visit our website and learn a more about us. We welcome you.
Yours truly,
