Lisa Kinney

Kinney was born and raised in Laramie, where she still lives, and graduated from Laramie High School.[2][3][4] She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming, a graduate degree (M.L.S.) from the University of Oregon in 1975, and a law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1986.[2] She served as director of the Albany County Library, where she says she passed a bond issue for a new library, and later, according to news coverage, as a compliance officer for the University of Wyoming.[2][3]

Kinney describes owning Summit Bar Review, where she taught Wyoming and federal law to new lawyers preparing for the bar exam, and working as a partner at the law offices of Corthell & King and at the American Heritage Center.[2] She worked for about 20 years as a financial advisor for VALIC/AIG/Corebridge, and describes herself as a past president of the Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce and the author of four published books.[2]

Kinney served ten years in the Wyoming State Senate representing Laramie, rising to Senate Minority Floor Leader in her final term (Cowboy State Daily dates her service 1985 to 1994), and she served on the Education and Judiciary Committees.[2][3][4] She defeated Elena Del Real in the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary with 74.6% of the vote.[7] During the campaign, she said she was running on keeping public lands in public hands and on affordability.[2][3][4] She received 33.7% of the vote to Chuck Gray's 54.5%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]