Mike Yin

Yin was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to immigrant parents. His father, Alfred Somboun Yin,^[b] was from Yunnan, while his mother, Wooiyi Tan Yin,^[c] was Malaysian Chinese.^[5] Yin grew up in a Republican-voting household.^[6]

Yin graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in computer science. He has said he moved to Wyoming due to the state's natural beauty.^[5]

Yin is a professional software developer and worked in the technology industry for a decade before his election in 2016.^[7] In 2021, Yin founded OtterSpace, a Wyoming-based company that constructs charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs).^[4] The company opened four charging stations in the state in 2023, solely relying on private funds.^[8]

Before his election to the Wyoming House of Representatives, Yin served as vice chair of the Teton County Democratic Party.^[7] He canvassed in support of Bernie Sanders's campaign during the 2016 Democratic primary and for Hillary Clinton in the general election.^[7]

Wyoming House of Representatives

2018 election

In 2018, Yin ran to represent district 16 in the Wyoming House of Representatives.^[5] The district covers most of the town of Jackson south of Broadway Street.^[9] Yin ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination and faced Republican Barbara Allen in the general election. Allen led in a local poll conducted by the Buckrail media outlet.^[10]

Analysis from The Casper Star-Tribune in 2018 found that Yin would likely be the second Asian American elected to the body, after Indian-born legislator Nimi McConigley, who served from 1994 to 1996.^[11] Yin won the election, 59.6% to 40.3%.^[1]

Tenure (2018-present)

During his first term in office, Yin served on a select committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology. He sponsored legislation to raise Wyoming's minimum wage and protect access to contraceptives.^[12] In December 2019, he was part of a group of Asian American legislators who traveled to Japan as part of a program created by the U.S.-Japan Council and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.^[13] He was reelected in 2020 without opposition,^[1] after which he was selected to serve on the Revenue Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.^[14]

In 2021, Yin cosponsored legislation to introduce a 4% state income tax to fund education.^[15] In the 2022 election, he defeated Republican Jim McCollum, 73.8% to 25.9%.^[1] In November 2022, he was elected by the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives to serve as Minority Leader.^[3]