Britney Tennant, chief executive of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter and longtime nonprofit leader, announced her candidacy for the Wyoming House of Representatives in District 11, running as a Democrat on a platform centered on unity, public education and economic opportunity.
Tennant brings deep Wyoming roots to her campaign. A fifth-generation Wyomingite and graduate of Cheyenne Central High School, she earned a degree in animal science and zoology from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Her mother was among Cheyenne’s first female police officers, an upbringing that shaped her commitment to public service.
Her professional career has been built around animal welfare and nonprofit leadership. In 2008 she founded Black Dog Animal Rescue, which grew into the largest organization of its kind in Wyoming. She has led the Cheyenne Animal Shelter for the past five years and has previously served as chair of both the Wyoming State Board of Veterinary Medicine and the Wyoming Nonprofit Network.
Tennant’s campaign priorities include defending public education funding from kindergarten through the University of Wyoming, advocating for wage equality and reproductive rights, expanding affordable childcare access, and maintaining the Wyoming Business Council’s role in economic development. She also intends to pursue stronger legal protections for companion animals and wildlife, and favors a research-based approach to property tax policy that protects local services.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, a Cheyenne Republican who is not seeking reelection. Tennant faces no opposition in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, Dan McIntosh and Paul Wing are competing for their party’s nomination. The primary is scheduled for August 18, with the general election set for November 3.
The race marks Tennant’s second bid for elected office, following an unsuccessful run for Senate District 6 in 2020.