CHEYENNE – Founded by tax reform activists in 1991, after absorbing the American Independent Party made famous for a segregationist platform and nominating George Wallace in 1968, the Constitution Party has become a leading voice for tax reform and Constitutional governance in the United States. While never successfully gaining House or Senate seats, Constitution Party candidates run in all 50 states and nominate a presidential candidate at a national convention, with ballot access in 18 states including Wyoming.

While Wyoming has only 307 registered Constitution Party members from a pool of 205,331 registered state voters, party members are eager to hold office. For the 2016 primary, two candidates, Joyce Collins of Lovell and Joe Michaels of Guernsey, have filed for state office, with Casper physician Daniel Cummings filing for the congressional seat being vacated by Representative Cynthia Lummis. A handful of Constitution party candidates have also filed for municipal and county-level positions across the state, including Stanley Jones of Otto running for Big Horn County commissioner.

For Collins, making a second bid for a state house seat representing District 26 (she lost in 2012 to incumbent Republican Elaine Harvey), the Constitution Party platform represents more rights for the state of Wyoming, and less for the federal government.

“What distinguishes the Constitution Party is principles,” stated Collins. “It doesn’t deliver what people want, but what is right. Government isn’t there to provide anything; it’s there to protect your rights.”

According to the party platform, the seven basic principles of the party are, “Life for all human beings from conception to natural death; Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual; One husband and one wife with their children, as divinely instituted; Each individual’s right to own and steward personal property without government burden; The Founding Documents interpreted according to the Actual Intent of the Founding Fathers; Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government, nor prohibited by the Constitution to the states, is reserved to the states or to the people; and American government committed to the protection  of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, with no entanglement in foreign alliances.”

According to Collins, the Constitution Party is the only political party that insists candidates follow the platform to a letter. “If you don’t follow the platform and our principles, you will be publicly denounced,” said Collins.

“We believe the state’s primary function is to stand between the people and the government if the government tries to exert too much power,” continued Collins. If elected, Collins has pledged to introduce no new taxes, as well as sponsor an act that “makes it illegal for the government to violate a citizen’s rights.”

The 2016 Presidential Nominating Convention was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 13–16, where national delegates nominated Memphis attorney Darrell Castle and Utah State University administrator Scott Bradley for the office of president and vice president of the United States.