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by | Mar 28, 2018 | Sisyrinchium

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Michael Yin (born March 14, 1986) is an American politician, software engineer, and businessman. A Democrat, he has represented District 16 of the Wyoming House of Representatives since 2018.[1] Yin is Wyoming's first Chinese-American legislator.[2]

Since 2023, Yin has served as Minority Leader in the Wyoming House of Representatives.[3] Yin is also the president of OtterSpace, a company that builds electric vehicle charging stations in Wyoming.[4]

Early life and education

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

He studied at Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a degree in computer science. Yin stated that he moved to Wyoming due to the state's natural beauty.[5]

Private sector career

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

Political career

Prior to his election to the Wyoming House of Representatives, Yin served as vice chair for the Teton County Democratic Party.[7] During the 2016 Democratic primary, he canvassed in support of Bernie Sanders' campaign, and later canvassed 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 prior to the election.[10]

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

Tenure (2018-present)

During his first term in office, he served on a select committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology. He sponsored legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Wyoming and protect access to contraceptives.[12] In December 2019, he was part of a group of Asian Americans 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] Following his reelection, he was selected to serve on the Revenue Committee and the House Judiciary Committee going into 2021.[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 by a 73.8% to 25.9% margin.[1] In November 2022, he was elected by the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives to serve as Minority Leader.[3]

Electoral history

Wyoming House of Representatives' 16th district election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Yin (incumbent) 2,477 73.8 –22.5
Republican Jim McCollum 869 25.9 N/A
Write-in 9 0.3 –3.4
Total votes 3,355 100%
Democratic hold
Wyoming House of Representatives' 16th district election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Yin (incumbent) 4,327 96.3% +36.7
Write-in 168 3.7% +3.6
Total votes 4,495 100.0%
Democratic hold
Wyoming House of Representatives' 16th district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Yin 2,530 59.6
Republican Barbara Allen 1,712 40.3
Write-in 4 0.1
Total votes 4,246 100%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Mike Yin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Cottier, Cody (7 November 2018). "Teton's Dems win state contests". Jackson Hole News and Guide. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Democrats select Wyoming House leadership". Casper Star-Tribune. 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  4. ^ a b Pollack, Nicole (2023-05-10). "Electric vehicle fast chargers announced for western Wyoming, Laramie". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  5. ^ a b c Welitzjkin, Paul (2018-11-10). "Wyoming elects its first Chinese state lawmaker". China Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  6. ^ Wolfson, Leo (2023-05-09). "Jackson Democrat Mike Yin Was A Blue Dot In a Sea Of Red At State GOP Meeting". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  7. ^ a b c Cottier, Cody (31 October 2018). "Candidates for House District 16". Jackson Hole News and Guide. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. ^ Tan, Caitlin (2023-12-11). "EV chargers are scarce in Wyoming. Who will fund more?". Marketplace. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  9. ^ Merzbach, Hanna (2022-10-05). "Local candidates for Wyoming House diverge on taxes, abortion". KHOL 89.1 FM. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  10. ^ "How our readers see it: 2018 Buckrail Election Poll Results". Buckrail. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  11. ^ Tamanaha, Akemi (2018-06-26). "Mike Yin Could Become Wyoming's First Ever Chinese American Lawmaker". AsAmNews. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  12. ^ "Mike Yin to seek reelection for House". Buckrail - Jackson Hole, news. 2020-05-04. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  13. ^ "Asian American State Legislators Meet with Japanese Government and Business Leaders". Rafu Shimpo. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  14. ^ Daly, Meg (2020-12-03). "Representative Mike Yin Talks about Policy-Making During a Pandemic". KHOL 89.1 FM. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  15. ^ Haderlie, Carrie (2021-03-06). "Democrats propose 4% income tax to fund education". The Sheridan Press. Retrieved 2024-01-20.

External links


Wyoming House of Representatives
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Wyoming House of Representatives
2023–present 		Incumbent
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