Former president Jimmy Carter

Courtesy photo

If there’s at least one thing Wyomingites can appreciate about former Democratic President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, it’s his humble beginnings as a rural peanut farmer before he rose in politics to become the 39th president of the United States.

Former Democratic Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan said Carter was a “unique political leader.”

Carter remained steadfast in his own beliefs and values during difficult economic times and tense international relations, Sullivan said.

“He didn’t change his positions. He didn’t try to change himself,” Sullivan told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. “He was a very civil individual, and he maintained that throughout his political career and afterward.”

Wyoming political leaders expressed their condolences Sunday afternoon after the news broke of the former president’s death in Plains, Georgia, where he was surrounded by family. Current Gov. Mark Gordon posted a thread on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his condolences to Carter’s family.

“We will forever cherish his unwavering commitment to promoting peace, justice and equality around the world,” Gordon wrote. “Rest in peace, President Carter.”

Carter may not have made the list as one of America’s most successful presidents, but he is largely remembered as a champion of human rights. Two years after he lost his second presidential bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980, Carter and his wife founded a nonprofit organization, the Carter Center, to fight for human rights around the globe.

“Humanity was one of his mantras, and he did that politically and personally,” Sullivan said. “He was an inspiration and a caricature of what I think the American personality should project — that is leadership, civility and the dedication to the values that America holds, including human rights.”

In a Monday news release, Gordon ordered all Wyoming flags to be flown at half staff until sunset on Jan. 28, in honor of the former president. In the release, Gordon praised Carter as a great leader, “even more so following his presidency,” whose humility and dedication to public service will inspire future generations.

“On behalf of the people of Wyoming, I express deep sadness and extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of former President Jimmy Carter on his passing,” Gordon said in the release.

Republican Wyoming U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso posted their own condolences on Sunday. They referred to Carter as “the personification of the American dream,” a man who rose from peanut farmer to president, and who later dedicated his life to giving back to the people.

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, (R-Wyo.), also sent out thoughts and prayers to the Carter family through an X post on Sunday.

“President Jimmy Carter worked tirelessly for the country he loved, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his service,” Hageman said.

Reactions from Wyoming Democrats

President Carter is sometimes described as one of the least influential presidents in the U.S., but Democratic Wyoming politicians beg to differ.

In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, and promoting economic and social development, according to a White House news release. During his time as president, Carter created the U.S. Department of Education, ratified the Panama Canal treaties and “appointed record numbers of women, Blacks, and Hispanics to government jobs.”

Former Democratic Wyoming state senator Rodger McDaniel said Carter set a standard for future American presidents, especially after they leave office.

“I often think that it says more about America than it does about Jimmy Carter that he was not viewed as more successful,” McDaniel said. “He was such a decent, good-hearted man with good intentions, and I’m not sure the American people appreciated that, so they gave him one term, and then he went on to do greater things.”

Carter never wavered from his commitment to public service after leaving the White House. One of the most interesting things he did after his presidential term, McDaniel said, was the eradication of the Guinea worm. This parasitic disease, formally called dracunculiasis, is transmitted through contaminated water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2023, there were only 14 reported human cases.

“They completely eradicated it when it was killing thousands of people in Africa,” McDaniel said. “What a remarkable thing for a former president — to take on an issue that was not particularly sensational, but had such significant meaning for millions of people, and he just quietly did it.”

Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman Joe Barbuto praised Carter’s work both in office and after leaving the White House in a Sunday news release.

“His efforts to eradicate disease, promote democracy, and alleviate poverty showcased his belief that public service does not end with elected office,” Barbuto said in a prepared statement. “Above all, President Carter embodied the values of humility, empathy, and an enduring faith in the potential of people to create a better world. On behalf of the Wyoming Democratic Party, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were inspired by his life.”

McDaniel crossed paths with Carter three times in his life: once during an intimate dinner in Jackson; another time in Washington, D.C., as a Wyoming legislator; and a final time in Americus, Georgia, where Carter led a Bible studies class at a local church. 

McDaniel said the latter was the most memorable.