State Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody) and her Republican primary challenger, David Hill, didn’t pull any punches during their Aug. 5 debate in Cody.

Hill, who is an attorney, attempted to paint Rodriguez-Williams as ineffective, while she countered that the “good country lawyer” is not a true conservative.

The two Cody residents are vying to represent House District 50 in the Wyoming Legislature — an area that includes the eastern part of Cody, Clark, Ralston, Heart Mountain and Sunlight/Crandall.

Rodriguez-Williams has represented the district since 2021, and Hill contended she’s “changed” from when she first ran for office. He charged that the Wyoming Freedom Caucus member is answering to out-of-state interests.

“We need people who [do] not just have good intentions, but actually step up and do conservative things, not just what they’re told,” Hill said, pledging to fight for the people of the district.

But Rodriguez-Williams said the reality is that she works for her constituents, saying she’s “very, very connected” to the people in her district.

“Will you cast a vote for me, a conservative willing to work for you, the citizens, or for a [Liz] Cheney Republican only on the ballot to advance his career?” she said of Hill. “For the last four years, I’ve dedicated my time as your representative in Cheyenne, returning the power to you, the people, the voter.”

Rodriguez-Williams described herself as a proven conservative. She noted her record as a leader on anti-abortion legislation and her support of property tax reform, universal school choice, stronger parental rights, preventing Wyoming’s schools from “going even more woke,” protecting the state from illegal immigration and “pushing back on the governor’s radical green agenda.”

“There’s a lot of reasons why Gov. Gordon didn’t endorse me,” Rodriguez-Williams said, “and I’m proud of every dang one of ‘em.”

Hill, who has the backing of Gordon’s Prosperity and Commerce PAC, told the audience he is also a lifelong conservative. He cited support for traditional marriage, protecting the unborn, the Second Amendment, parental rights and “fighting for people who are the most vulnerable in society.”

Hill contended that he and Rodriguez-Williams agree on most things, but she cast doubts on Hill’s Republican bonafides. The incumbent warned that “there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing,” like former U.S. Rep. Cheney.

“I can tell you that the Wyoming Freedom Caucus would not exist if Republicans in the House of Representatives act[ed] and voted like Republicans,” Rodriguez-Williams added.

For his part, Hill said he did not support Cheney and voted for both U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) and President Donald Trump. 

Debating pro-life

Rodriguez-Williams has garnered national attention for her efforts to almost entirely ban abortions in the state, including serving as the lead sponsor of 2023’s Life is a Human Right Act. 

“I am the only candidate in this race that’s 100% pro-life,” she said.

Hill, however, noted that the laws have remained on hold amid legal challenges, all while the number of documented abortions in the state has increased.

“We have bills that are well-intentioned … bills that I think are moving in the right direction, but have been held up in court for 2 1/2 years, haven’t saved a single life,” Hill said, “and abortions are out of control in our state.”

For her part, Rodriguez-Williams bristled at Hill’s comments about being “well-intentioned,” saying they represented an insult to her constituents, a coalition of pro-life advocates around the state and a team of experienced pro-life attorneys that helped draft her legislation.

“Now the good country lawyer here has a lot of criticism about … my pro-life work, but I continue to still be endorsed by national organizations and local/state organizations,” she said.

Rodriguez-Williams said Hill thinks he’s smarter, but from her time in law enforcement, “I’ve spent so much time in the courtrooms that I'm completely aware that there’s some very smart, motivated attorneys out there, and there’s also some lazy, not-so-smart ones out there.” 

She said some lawmakers who work as attorneys “make money” drafting bills for special interest groups and then try to “enact terrible laws.”

Suicide prevention

At another point in the chippy conversation, Hill charged that being pro-life also means “being pro mental health, stopping people from killing themselves, giving support to kids, giving support to families.” As a part of his critique, he referenced Rodriguez-Williams’ no votes on full funding for a suicide prevention hotline and to add more counselors to public schools.

But Rodriguez-Williams rebutted his comments, saying Hill “is clearly disconnected from reality.”

Over the past 15 years in Park County, Rodriguez-Williams said she’s helped form a suicide prevention coalition, organized an “Out of Darkness” walk and suicide survivors event, launched crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers and trained others on suicide prevention methods.

“I personally have saved lives in this county,” Rodriguez-Williams said.

As for adding school counselors, she said local youth do need adequate mental health care, but noted there are existing resources in the community. Rodriguez-Williams also said she’s concerned about the mental health discussion being tied to a “woke agenda,” such as preferred pronouns and “boys that think that they can be girls.”

Hill agreed that mental health professionals should not “push the woke,” indicating they should instead be “helping kids get through their mental health crises or these issues and bring them back to reality.” However, he suggested that the Cody school district could have used another counselor.

Rodriguez-Williams also returned the critique about ineffectiveness, panning Hill’s work as a Park County Republican Party Precinct Committeeman.

The race has attracted both interest and money. Campaign finance reports filed this week show Hill has raised $33,847 while Rodriguez-Williams has raised $19,521 — totals that don’t include the mailers and other efforts from outside political organizations.