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]
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]
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
