James Byrd

James Byrd is a former Wyoming state representative and professional geophysicist running as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. A fifth-generation Wyomingite from Cheyenne, he served ten years in the Wyoming House, including as a Democratic leader, and was the party's 2018 nominee for Secretary of State. He says he is running on an independent approach focused on working families' costs, rural health care, and public lands.[1][2]

Byrd describes himself as a fifth-generation Wyomingite. He earned a high school diploma from Cheyenne Central High School and attended Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming.[1] According to his candidate survey, his mother, Liz Byrd, was Wyoming's first Black state senator and his father, Jim Byrd, was the state's first Black police chief.[1]

Byrd worked as a security consultant, a computer network designer and an exploration geophysicist in Colorado, including for Compagnie Generale de Geophysique and Amoco/BP. He later worked as a contract computer project manager and software consultant for firms including American Express and Cargill.[1][2]

Byrd served ten years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, representing District 44 in Cheyenne from 2009 to 2019, and won re-election in 2012 and later cycles.[1][2] He was Minority Whip from 2013 to 2015 and was elected Minority Caucus Leader in 2015. His committees included Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions and Minerals, Business and Economic Development.[1][2] He ran as the Democratic nominee for Wyoming Secretary of State in 2018, losing to incumbent Edward Buchanan.[1][2] In 2026 he advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, defeating Billy Benavidez.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.