2025 Scores currently being researched.
Chris Rothfuss has served in Senate District 9 as a WY Senator in Albany County from 2011 to the present.
He is up for reelection in 2026.
“The idea that a majority of the legislature gets to cancel ideas at a university, ideas that are being sought out and embraced by the students — our students, our children at that university — seems unacceptable and certainly seems beyond the role of what a legislature should do,” he said.
https://laramiereporter.substack.com/p/senate-votes-to-defund-uw-gender
2023
+ – –
In 2023 Rothfuss received a positive score for Representation and a negative score for Competence and Integrity and therefore has been ranked as Low Trust.
2025
Overall, Rothfuss earns a positive score ( + ) for Representation.
Attendance
In keeping with our grading system, a legislator had to be present and vote on all bills for any 33 days in the 2025 General Session. If a legislator missed any votes on 5 or more days, they receive a negative (-) score. Rothfuss missed 4 votes across 3 days.
2/18/25: Minerals committee vote on HB0214;
2/19/25: Minerals committee vote on HB0183;
2/26/25: Education committee vote on HB0031; COW vote on HB0246.
Public Conduct
Rothfuss appears to behave appropriately in public and to the public.
Bill Sponsorship
In 2025 Rothfuss was the primary sponsor of five bills: Special purpose depository institution-amendments; Establishment of a K-8 public lab school; Emergency assistance immunity-mental health services; Defense of state banking-1; State shooting complex-funding amendment.
Committee Assignments
In 2025 Rothfuss served on the following committees: Management Audit Committee; Senate Education; Senate Minerals; Senate Rules & Procedure; Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology (Chairman); Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, Technology and Process; Select Committee on School Facilities; Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration.
2023
Overall, Rothfuss earns a ( + ) for Representation.
Attendance
It appears that Rothfuss missed 1 vote in 2023 General Session: 3rd reading of SJ6 on 1/24/23.
Public Conduct
Rothfuss appears to behave appropriately in public and to the public
Sponsorship History
In 2023 Rothfuss was the primary sponsor of 0 bills, and he co-sponsored 21 bills. For more, see his legislative webpage.
Committee Assignments
2023-Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology – Chairman
2023-Management Council
2023-Senate Education
2023-Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development
2023-Senate Rules & Procedure
2023-Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, Technology and Process
2023-Select Committee on School Facilities
2023-Subcommittee on Legislator Ethics Complaint Procedure
2023-CSG West – Executive Committee
Rothfuss earned a ( + ) for Constitutional Competence with an average of 32% on the constitutional bills listed below. Legislator’s must have a percentage of 85% or higher to receive a final positive (+) score.
Out of a total of 31 bills, was constitutionally correct on 10 bills – giving him 32%.
For more on the bills used to analyze these scores click here
| 2025 Rothfuss Vote Scores | Correct votes/Number of bills voted on |
| #1: Separation of Powers; Arbitrary Power Incorrect votes on all bills in this category. |
0/2 |
| #2: 1st & 2nd Amendments Incorrect votes on SF0077 & HB0172. |
1/3 |
| #3: 4th, 5th & 8th Amendments Incorrect vote on HB0234. |
3/4 |
| #4: 9th & 10th Amendments Incorrect votes on SF0125, HB0032 & SF0044. |
1/4 |
| #5: Protection of Children, Health & Morality Incorrect votes on all bills in this category. |
0/4 |
| #6: Prohibition of Discrimination Incorrect votes on all bills in this category. |
0/2 |
| #7: Purity of Elections; Apportionment Incorrect votes on HB0144, HB0156, HB0165 & HB0318. |
4/8 |
| #8: Foreign Entities Incorrect votes on HB0116, HB0133 & SF0124. |
1/4 |
2023
Rothfuss scored a ( – ) for Constitutional Competence with an average of 10.83% on the constitutional issues listed below.
For more on the bills used to analyze these scores click here. Special hat-tip goes out to Evidence Based Wyoming for use of their statistical tool to generate the following vote scores:
| Constitutional Bill Vote Scores | |
| Separation of Governmental Powers | 0 |
| 1st Amendment/ Right to Healthcare Decisions (Covid Mandates) | 0 |
| 2nd Amendment / Right to Self Defense | 0 |
| 4th & 5th Amendments | 66.7 |
| Right to Life/ Pro-Life | 0 |
| Protection of Children/ Parental Rights (Transgender Issues) | 0 |
| Sectarianism Prohibited in Schools (Critical Race Theory Issue) | 20 |
| Civics Education | 0 |
2023
Conflicts
Overall, Rothfuss earns a ( – ) for Integrity.
Rothfuss is a University of Wyoming professor that regularly votes on a myriad of bills that award significant money and power to his employer every year. We have not found any instance of Rothfuss recusing himself from voting on any UW related bills because of this conflict. It is for this reason that Rothfuss receives a negative grade for Integrity.
Employment/Income
University of Wyoming Professor for 7 years (source)
- Adjunct Professor of International Studies
- Director of the UW Summer High School Institute
According to Rothfuss’ legislative webpage his occupation is Chemical Engineer/Consultant.
According to Rothfuss’ 2023 State Elected Officials Financial Disclosure available at Wyofile, he reports:
- Visiting Assistant Professor/Director of University of Wyoming – Salaried employment
- President of RARE Corporation – Salaried employment
- CEO of Chico Payment Systems, Inc.
- Wyoming Legislature
Memberships/Civic Organizations
PhD in Chemical Engineering (2002) University of Washington
MS in Applied Physics (2002) University of Washington
MS in Chemical Engineering (1996) University of Wyoming
BA in International Studies (1994) University of Wyoming
2003-06, Chris was an AAAS Science and Technology Diplomacy Fellow at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Space and Advanced Technology. U.S. lead for nanotechnology foreign policy, and as a delegate to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
25 patent applications and 15 granted patents
Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology
Global Issues in Nanotechnology Working Group
Space Debris Group
Space Nuclear Power
United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Campaign Contributions
The table below shows all campaign contributions reported by the WY Secretary of State for Rothfuss for Senate.
From 2010 to 2022 Rothfuss received approximately 48 contributions that total approximately $13,449.42. Of the 48 donations, 2 were from PACs &/or Campaign Committees. The total amount received from PACs &/or Campaign Committees was approximately $1,000.
Click the arrows at the top of columns to sort the data by name, date, $ amount, etc. (Data is publicly available records obtained from the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Wyoming’s Campaign Finance Information System.)
| Contributor Name | Recipient Name | Date | Filing Status | Amount | City State Zip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORNISH, BOB (JACKSON) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 10/6/2022 | FILED | 100 | JACKSON, WY 83001 |
| ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 9/24/2022 | FILED | 80 | ||
| OLSON, LINDSAY (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 9/23/2022 | FILED | 150 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| TRUE, THEA (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 9/20/2022 | FILED | 1000 | CASPER, WY 82604 |
| IFLAND, JANE (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 9/9/2022 | FILED | 100 | CASPER, WY 82601 |
| ALBANY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/23/2022 | FILED | 500 | LARAMIE, WY 82073 |
| BREITWEISER, SHARON (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/4/2022 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82072 |
| GLASS, GERALD (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/4/2022 | FILED | 50 | LARAMIE, WY 82073 |
| CONNOLLY FOR HOUSE (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/1/2022 | FILED | 500 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| GORIN, SARAH (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/1/2022 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| HANNEBRINK, BRADLEY G (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/5/2013 | FILED | 500 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 11/1/2010 | FILED | 161.76 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| DEMOCRAT (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 10/1/2010 | FILED | 150 | CASPER, WY 82602 |
| GORIN, S (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 9/1/2010 | FILED | 50 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| PETERS, O&B (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/30/2010 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/25/2010 | FILED | 53 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/9/2010 | FILED | 137.15 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| TRELEASE, A (CHEYENNE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/7/2010 | FILED | 100 | CHEYENNE, WY 82009 |
| GUENTHER, R&C (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/3/2010 | FILED | 25 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| HUFFSMITH, A&E (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/3/2010 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| HUFFSMITH, A&E (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/3/2010 | FILED | 25 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| CARTER, N (GILLETTE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/2/2010 | FILED | 750 | GILLETTE, WY 82717 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 8/1/2010 | FILED | 579.7 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| ATHERTON, MJ (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/28/2010 | FILED | 50 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| IBARRA, S (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/18/2010 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| MARRIOTT, H (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/4/2010 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| SPRINKLE, L (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/2/2010 | FILED | 50 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 7/1/2010 | FILED | 1332.88 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| CHEN, SUNG-WEI (LAS VEGAS) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 6/30/2010 | FILED | 1000 | LAS VEGAS, NV 89119 |
| BONE, ERIC (ARLINGTON) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 6/4/2010 | FILED | 30 | ARLINGTON, VA 22206 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 6/1/2010 | FILED | 1164.97 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| COLNAR, R (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 35 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| DRUMMOND, N (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 20 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| HACKMAN, H&J (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 50 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| LERESCHE, B&C (CLEARMONT) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 150 | CLEARMONT, WY 82835 |
| LERESCHE, BOB & CAROL (CLEARMONT) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 100 | CLEARMONT, WY 82835 |
| MOHROR, J (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 50 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| PEARSON, K (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/29/2010 | FILED | 50 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| WHITED, MARGARET (WAPITI) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/18/2010 | FILED | 250 | WAPITI, WY 82450 |
| FAHNANSTIEL, SHELLEY (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/17/2010 | FILED | 50 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 5/1/2010 | FILED | 516.96 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| DURKEE, JOHN (LARAMIE) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/29/2010 | FILED | 100 | LARAMIE, WY 82070 |
| DEMOCRAT (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/17/2010 | AMEND - ADD | 150 | CASPER, WY 82604 |
| ROTHFUSS, H J (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/17/2010 | FILED | 1000 | CASPER, WY 82604 |
| ROTHFUSS, M L (CASPER) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/17/2010 | FILED | 1000 | CASPER, WY 82604 |
| BIRKHOLZ, PAUL (SHERIDAN) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/12/2010 | FILED | 100 | SHERIDAN, WY 82801 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LARA) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 4/1/2010 | FILED | 88 | LARA, WY 82070 |
| ROTHFUSS, CHRIS (LAR) | ROTHFUSS FOR SENATE | 3/16/2010 | FILED | 500 | LAR, WY 82070 |
According to Evidence Based Wyoming generated data:
- Rothfuss scored a 9.3% as a Fiscal Conservative for 2023 legislative session
- Rothfuss earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2023 legislative session
- Rothfuss scored a 26.8% as a Budget Conservative for 2022 legislative session
- Rothfuss earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2022 legislative session
- Rothfuss earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2021 legislative session
- Rothfuss earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2020 legislative session
- Rothfuss earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2019 legislative session
- Overall, Rothfuss has scored a 0.00% for Pro-Life Voting
Because he is not a Republican legislator, Rothfuss does not appear on any scorecard at WyoRINO.