Wait...why does Gabriel Green work in a restaurant?

Written by Gabriel Green, 2026 DINO Candidate for Wyoming Governor

One of the most likely objections to my candidacy for Governor, or at least one of the most reasonable, is that I'm currently working in a restaurant and therefore would be unqualified for the position. This piece is intended to clarify why exactly I'm working there, and to explain further why I am uniquely qualified to serve in the office of Governor of Wyoming.

The short version is simple: I got fired by a Sheridan nonprofit for daring to criticize the democrats, after their donors threatened to withdraw funds in response to this op-ed. So I decided to stop working with nonprofits, to avoid their natural pitfalls and corruption.

What is Gabriel's Work Background?

After gradutaing from American University in 2018 I took a bit of time away from the political space (going to college in DC will do that to you).

Besides a brief stint at Verizon which left me seething at their insidious business practices, I mostly worked for a local shoe store and sold American-Made Red Wing work boots.

I enjoyed helping Wyoming workers, but that didn't pay great, and definitely wasn't what my full ride scholarship from the Daniels Fund was supposed to help me to do.

So, eventually I decided to use my brain for something other than selling shoes, and I took a job with the State Policy Network (SPN). I'd interned for them in college, and always appreciated their mission of empowering the states.

State Governance > Federal Overreach

SPN was founded at the behest of Ronald Reagan, and was dedicated to his principled belief that"the states formed the federal government, not the other way around." SPN primarily worked with conservative think tanks around the entire country, helping them to promote fiscally responsible and free market policy in all fifty states.

I worked for SPN from 2020-2025, earning several promotions and living a pretty comfortable life. I worked from home most of the time here in Wyoming, traveled the country the rest of the time, and had killer benefits like health insurance and PTO.

Compared to my working class family and upbringing, I was living a really cushy life!

In my time at SPN I got to interact with not only the best and brightest nerds in policy, but also the policymakers who actually made the decisions. From governors to state legislators to state supreme court justices, I have been around the halls of power in most of the states (still missing Hawaii from my bucket list). And I have seen the good, bad, and ugly in how state politics actually operates.

A Uniquely Qualified Perspective for Governor

Most candidates fall into one of two categories. Either they have NO CLUE how government works and are "anti-establishment" but incapable of doing anything if they actually win office. Or they know EXACTLY how government works, and are already part of the establishment problem that is making everyone else's lives worse.

I meanwhile have the unique knowledge of how government works and a strong network of experts in responsible and conservative government to populate my administration with, without being some establishment shill who is already bought-and-sold by powerful donors.

A Decision to Refocus on My Community

This brings me to the most recent part of my work life, which was when I decided to step away from my role with SPN. Despite lofty organizational ideals and lots of great patriots who I admired and got to work with, the conservative nonprofit world is changing.

Increasingly the principles I supported, such as Limited Government and State's Rights, are being pushed aside in favor of Big Federal Government and Sweeping Social Regulation.

Whether it's the Woke Mob or the Radical Right, both sides are destroying our Republic.

So, I decided to do two things.

1) I'd dedicate most of my time and strategic insights to a nonprofit dedicated to helping the next generation in some way, and 2) I'd make up (some of) the difference in lost income by starting a small consulting business for Wyoming nonprofits.

I knew I was going to end up making a lot less money than I did at SPN, but I was okay with that because I wanted to help my community.

Fired by Snowflake Libs...

So, as part one of my plan, I took a role with a group called Science Kids, which is dedicated to inculcating a lifelong love of learning in kids.

But, seven days into my new job I was fired because of this op-ed...Some donors who apparently love the direction of the Democrat Party didn't like my straightforward critique, and threatened to withdraw funding from the organization if they didn't fire me.

The irony of this is not lost on me.

In over 5 years working with conservatives and never hiding my criticism of various Red administrations, the direction of the Republican party, and the overall shift towards big government of many of our think tanks, I was never reprimanded. They never told me to tone down my views, and in fact I was consistently praised for my willingness to ask hard questions. Seriously. At least one of my many promotions was because I was willing to say the quiet part out loud and push back on the rising tide of expanding government.

Meanwhile, it only took seven days for the snowflake libs to fire me, and all I did was write something as a private citizen that had NOTHING to do with my new job.

Please, read the piece. I'm just speaking the truth.

If this bothers you, maybe you should try going outside to talk to a real person in Wyoming.

But, this is the problem with donors and nonprofits in general. If the donor doesn't like something, the nonprofit doesn't do it, or they stop existing.

That's why I abandoned my second part of my plan, and chose not to start consulting in Wyoming. I knew that any organizations I wanted to work with, would then be in jeopardy of losing funding when some rich jack*ss took umbrage with my willingness to speak the truth.

Why is Gabriel Working at The Pony Bar & Grill?

But, seeing as I'm not some rich trust fund kid, I still had to pay rent. I'd just signed a new lease and moved to Sheridan, one of the most expensive towns in Wyoming, and my entire new career plan had been thrown out the window in just a week...

So, I did exactly what my hard working Dad taught me.

I printed up some resumes and cover letters, and I walked around my neighborhood in downtown Sheridan to find a job.

I was fortunate enough to be hired on the spot by the Pony Bar & Grill, and while I'd never worked in food service before I have to admit that I really like it.

As a side note I also briefly worked a second job at the Java Moon cafe over the summer to initially stabilize my income. But it's hard enough to run for office working one real-person job, much more working two...

Now, restuarant pay is pretty bad compared to where I had been, and I definitely struggle more with paying bills than I'd like to. But, on the flip side I am never worried to speak my mind, and the biggest benefit is that I get to meet the many people in our community, state, and even region who like to visit Sheridan and stop in at the Pony.

My regulars include the entire spectrum of opinions in Wyoming, and if you asked the folks who come around they'd tell you that I get along with everyone.

Listening to conversations behind the bar, and engaging when I can, I have learned so much about what our people fear, deal with on a daily basis, and just how badly they need the government to get out of the way of their right to earn a good living.

Why is Gabriel Uniquely Suited for Wyoming Governor?

Like I said above, most candidates either don't know what they're doing, or know exactly what they're doing and are corrupt because of it. My time at SPN makes me uniquely suited to be an effective governor, without being a corrupt shill.

While my time with SPN is what gives me the know-how to run a fiscally responsible and constitutionally limited government, I think the rest of my life and career help a lot too.

I come from a working class background, and still live as a working class person. I know what it's like to struggle to pay bills, to be terrified of rising grocery prices, and to question whether or not I'll ever be able to afford to raise a family of my own.

I can feel exactly how scary it is for someone to get sick or injured when they can't afford to go to the doctor. That's why, when an elderly customer at the Pony accidentally threw away their expensive new dentures, I was the one to volunteer to go dumpster diving to find 'em.

Teaching a Man to Fish...

See, I was raised as a Christian, and I help lead a bible study. So, I believe in helping others.

And I am also a full blooded American, literally born on the 4th of July, who believes that the best way to raise others up is to help them raise themselves.

Many talk about teaching a man to fish, not giving him a fish. I understand that we need to teach a lot of folks to fish because providing for yourself and family seems to be a lost art.

But, we also need to tear down the fence that the government has put around the pond. Otherwise it doesn't matter how good a fisherman you are, you'll never get the chance.

A Simple Promise

If you vote for me, you will be voting for someone who is actually like you.

You'll be voting for competence, not corruption.

I am a hard worker, and I'm someone who believes that hard work should earn you more than the ability to pay your bills. Hard work should be all it takes in this country to earn a comfortable living. Not something lavish, but comfortable.

Right now, our state is being bought out from under us by out-of-state and even foreign billionaires. Our dominant political party is intent to cash in, and sell out. Because they want a lavish life, even if it comes at the expense of the workers' comfort.

Not me. I aim to fix our economy and put the Wyoming Worker first.

By the time I'm done, you're going to have more money in your pocket, cheaper groceries at the store, and the ability to enjoy your free time exactly as you see fit.

Bonus: Wait...aren't you a f*cking Democrat?

No, not really. I'm a DINO. And that's only until I win and can change back to being an independent like I was for 29 years before now.

I'm just using the fact that the Blues have free access to your general ballot to skip the line for the Republican Primary. Trust me, this is strategic.

Let's put it this way..."I'm not Red or Blue, I'm Gabriel Green."

But the parties have made it borderline illegal, and definitely too expensive, for a working person to run independently or through a third party.

I aim to change that, but until I do, I have to use the system that the cronies have left us with.

Again, it helps that I know the things I do, because it allows me to use their system against them. Nobody else can do this, because they don't have my unique background.

By the time I'm done, we'll have replaced the corruption with good ol' Wyoming Values. And then, you won't have to choose between Red and Blue, vote for the lesser of two evils, or question why you're voting in the first place.

You'll get to vote for people who can accurately represent you, the workers of Wyoming.