Jen Solis

Jen Solis (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Wyoming House of Representatives to represent District 41. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Solis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jen Solis was born in Bangor, Maine. Her career experience includes working in business consultanting, nonprofit management, fundraising development, grant-writing, and bookkeeping. Solis has been affiliated with the Wyoming Civic Engagement Network and the Wyoming Independent Citizens Coalition.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Gary Brown defeated Jen Solis in the general election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gary Brown (R)	52.2	2,039
	Jen Solis (D)	47.4	1,852
	Other/Write-in votes	0.4	16

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,907
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Jen Solis advanced from the Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on August 20, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jen Solis	99.4	337
	Other/Write-in votes	0.6	2

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 339
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Gary Brown defeated incumbent Bill Henderson in the Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on August 20, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Gary Brown	53.7	719
	Bill Henderson	45.6	610
	Other/Write-in votes	0.7	9

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,338
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Solis in this election.

2022

General election

General election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Incumbent Bill Henderson defeated Jen Solis and Matt Freeman in the general election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Henderson (R)	49.3	1,384
		Jen Solis (D)	41.4	1,163
	Submit photo	Matt Freeman (Constitution Party)	9.0	252
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	7

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,806
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Jen Solis advanced from the Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on August 16, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jen Solis (Write-in)	50.0	51
	Other/Write-in votes	50.0	51

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 102
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Incumbent Bill Henderson advanced from the Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 on August 16, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Henderson	96.3	1,857
	Other/Write-in votes	3.7	72

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,929
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Jen Solis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Solis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Wyoming has been home since 1996. I am proud to be raising a family here alongside my husband of 25 years. I am a small business owner and community organizer with a long career in non-profits.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Wyoming values are worth fighting for. In recent years we've seen too much out of state influence in our politics. Real Wyomingites want to leave the culture war nonsense to other state and their elected officials to focus on local issues impacting our communities.
The Wyoming way is big enough for every pursuit of freedom. Elected officials who would use the state government to dictate how people live their lives, what medical care they can access, and even what books they can read do not understand that in Wyoming- freedom from government overreach should be extended to everyone- even those we may disagree with.
Public education is a priority for Wyomingites. Its so important,that our state constitution promises to fund quality education for all Wyoming families. Lawmakers who vilify educators and try to harm our public education system are causing real harm to our ability to recruit and retain teachers and outs our future workforce at a disadvantage.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, Healthcare, Affordable Housing

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are so many people I look up to. I grew up in a working class town in Maine and an early hero was former Senator Margaret Chase Smith. She was still alive and would often speak at my school. In Wyoming I am very fond of the homesteader Geraldine Lucas- whose ranch at the base of the Tetons was one of the last tracts of land incorporated into the National Park. She was defiant in holding on to her land during her lifetime, made a life for herself that was extraordinary for women of the era.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I am a voracious reader and the freedom to read freely has been foundational to my life, career, and my decision to run for public office.

While no specific piece of literature comes to mind, I will say that I am drawn again and again to the works of Kurt Vonnegut, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and the letters of EB White among others.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The characteristics and principles most important for an elected official are a willingness to listen to and work hard for the people they represent.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I love Wyoming and the life the freedom I've had here has afforded me. I am a problem solver and I love working hard for my community.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for an elected official is to do the work asked of them by the people they represent.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I let the Wyoming Way change me, and never tried to change Wyoming into something it is not, and that I stood up for the freedoms and values my fellow Wyomingites treasure

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event I can recall is probably the assassination attempt on Ronald Regan. I would have been just shy of 3 years old. As a child I always had a great interest in learning about the presidents, and even at that young age I was fond of the President (It was probably the shared fondness of jelly beans)

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was scooping Ice Cream. It was a summer job and I earned enough to buy my first car.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Grapes of Wrath is my all time favorite book because it breaks my heart and makes me want to fight hard for hard working families who struggle.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Tom Joad.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Wyoming's very own Shawn Hess' latest album Wild Onion, is full of songs that are a constant in my head and have been for months. In particular the song "Walls" speaks to me.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Saying no to a good cause, when there are so many good causes to say yes to.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The Chief Executive of the state has the responsibility to advocate for the best interests of our state and to serve as a check and balance on the powers of the Legislature. The Legislature has a duty to craft legislation in accordance with the needs of the people they represent and to serve as a check and balance on the powers of the executive.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Wyoming's biggest challenge will ensuring that hardworking families have adequate access to affordable housing and healthcare. These challenges are amplified by consistently low civic engagement in the state primary system- and low voter turnout in most elections. Nearly 250,000 eligible Wyoming voters do not participate- and the results are evident in elected officials legislating on culture war issues, and not on Wyoming's actual challenges.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe in a citizen legislature and a diverse group of elected officials of various backgrounds. Particular in the House of Representative, I believe having ordinary citizens representing their communities is valuable

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I believe its beneficial to build relationships with other legislatures. I believe this has long been a hallmark of the pragmatic success of our state's system. In recent years, the political rancor and bombastic nature of some elected officials has eroded this tradition.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

There are too many legislators that I admire to include them all here- Mary Throne, Clarene Law, Leland Christensen, and others come immediately to mind.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I am not interested in holding office beyond the Wyoming House of Representatives. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve in that capacity, and the duties of that office are well aligned with my abilities and the logistics of my life.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

As I canvas the district ahead of this election, I am frequently hearing from Wyoming Republicans who realize that in this election- a Wyoming Democrat is most closely aligned with the Wyoming values and traditions they care about. I am also frequently hearing from multi-generational Wyomingites feeling heartbroken about the nature of our current politics and the departure from Wyoming values and out-of-state influence we are seeing.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why did the monkey fall out of the tree? Because it was dead. Why did the squirrel fall out of the tree? Because it was stapled to the monkey (this is a terrible joke but I love it)

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

In emergency situations speed is often of the essence and politics should take a back seat to meeting the immediate needs of the people. Of course oversight is important, but it must not delay the safety and well being of citizens experiencing difficult circumstances.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Wyoming Educational Association, Wyoming Public Employees Association, Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, Pro-Choice Wyoming.

What committees interest you?

I am most interested in serving on education and health committees.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency is key in government accountability- particular in Wyoming where we have a substantiation "rainy day" fund. The people of Wyoming deserve to know what their government spends money on, and what it elects to not spend money on, despite having funds to address various needs.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Jen Solis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Solis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Jen Solis is a small business owner who has spent most of her professional career in non-profit fundraising and program development. A Wyoming Democrat, Solis believes in a small, efficient government that serves the people and works hard to build a brighter Wyoming.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Improve Access to Healthcare
Protecting Constitutional Rights
Supporting our Educators

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Protecting the rights of all Wyomingites to make their own healthcare decisions. Supporting our educators and treating them with the respect they deserve for the incredible work they do. Economic development that is equitable to all Wyomingites.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Jen Solis campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Wyoming House of Representatives District 41	Lost general	$35,298	$30,367
2022	Wyoming House of Representatives District 41	Lost general	$11,472	$10,344
Grand total			$46,770	$40,712
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024

[show]

Current members of the Wyoming House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Chip Neiman

Majority Leader:Scott Heiner

Minority Leader:Mike Yin

Representatives

District 1

Chip Neiman (R)

District 2

J.D. Williams (R)

District 3

Abby Angelos (R)

District 4

Jeremy Haroldson (R)

District 5

Scott Smith (R)

District 6

Tomi Strock (R)

District 7

Bob Nicholas (R)

District 8

Steve Johnson (R)

District 9

Landon Brown (R)

District 10

John Eklund (R)

District 11

Jacob Wasserburger (R)

District 12

Clarence Styvar (R)

District 13

Ken Chestek (D)

District 14

Trey Sherwood (D)

District 15

Pam Thayer (R)

District 16

Mike Yin (D)

District 17

J.T. Larson (R)

District 18

Scott Heiner (R)

District 19

Joseph Webb (R)

District 20

Michael Schmid (R)

District 21

McKay Erickson (R)

District 22

Andrew Byron (R)

District 23

Liz Storer (D)

District 24

Nina Webber (R)

District 25

Paul Hoeft (R)

District 26

Dalton Banks (R)

District 27

Martha Lawley (R)

District 28

John Winter (R)

District 29

Ken Pendergraft (R)

District 30

Thomas Kelly (R)

District 31

John Bear (R)

District 32

Ken Clouston (R)

District 33

Ivan Posey (D)

District 34

Pepper Ottman (R)

District 35

Tony Locke (R)

District 36

Art Washut (R)

District 37

Steve Harshman (R)

District 38

Jayme Lien (R)

District 39

Cody Wylie (R)

District 40

Marilyn Connolly (R)

District 41

Gary Brown (R)

District 42

Rob Geringer (R)

District 43

Ann Lucas (R)

District 44

Lee Filer (R)

District 45

Karlee Provenza (D)

District 46

Ocean Andrew (R)

District 47

Robert Davis (R)

District 48

Darin McCann (R)

District 49

Robert Wharff (R)

District 50

Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R)

District 51

Laurie Bratten (R)

District 52

Reuben Tarver (R)

District 53

Christopher Knapp (R)

District 54

Lloyd Larsen (R)

District 55

Joel Guggenmos (R)

District 56

Elissa Campbell (R)

District 57

Julie Jarvis (R)

District 58

Bill Allemand (R)

District 59

J.R. Riggins (R)

District 60

Marlene Brady (R)

District 61

Daniel Singh (R)

District 62

Kevin Campbell (R)

Republican Party (56)

Democratic Party (6)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024

[1]

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Jen Solis

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wyoming House of Representatives District 41

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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