CPAC Mixes Up Two Frank Chapmans — While One Actually Runs for Congress
A major conservative organization accidentally credited a Wyoming congressional candidate with the historic legal career of a completely different man who shares his name — and who is decidedly not running for anything.
By Clair McFarland, Cowboy State Daily | March 26, 2026
Northwest Wyoming has two attorneys named Frank Chapman — and this week, CPAC managed to blend both of them into one fictional super-candidate.
The Conservative Political Action Conference published a speaker announcement for its CPAC USA 2026 event in Grapevine, Texas, promoting Frank H. Chapman, 58, a rancher from Moran, Wyoming who declared his candidacy for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat.
The problem: CPAC’s write-up borrowed the life accomplishments of a completely different Frank Chapman — Frank R. Chapman, 75, who was appointed Wyoming’s first state public defender back in 1978.
Frank H. Chapman would have been about 10 years old at that time.
What CPAC Actually Said
The CPAC post described its confirmed speaker as someone whose professional experience includes a historic legal career, including his appointment as Wyoming’s first State Public Defender in 1978 and his service as a Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives.
“That’s me,” Frank R. Chapman told Cowboy State Daily when read those lines — referring to himself, not the congressional candidate.
The post continued, saying the speaker specializes in high-stakes litigation. Frank R. confirmed that too — with a caveat: he’d never describe his own work as “high-stakes.”
Then CPAC called its speaker a “significant conservative influence through his advocacy on corner crossing laws.” That’s where Frank R. drew the line.
“That’s not me. I am far from conservative, madam.” — Frank R. Chapman
A Different Kind of Frank
Frank R. Chapman described himself as an “Al Simpson Republican” and said he has zero interest in running for Congress.
The younger Frank H. Chapman called the elder Frank R. on the same day he declared his candidacy to give him a heads-up.
“I might sign up as a Democrat then, just to keep people confused.”
The Congressional Candidate: Frank H. Chapman
Frank H. Chapman is the seventh Republican to enter Wyoming’s U.S. House primary, joining Secretary of State Chuck Gray, state Senate President Bo Biteman, former Superintendent Jillian Balow, and others.
Chapman operates Heart Six Ranch near Moran and previously ran for Boca Raton, Florida City Council in 2012 and 2015.
His campaign platform centers on supporting Wyoming’s energy industry, protecting grazing and land-use rights, and limiting federal regulatory authority.
“First and foremost, I am conservative, I am America First, and I am MAGA. But above all, I’m a cowboy who believes Wyoming must always come first.” — Frank H. Chapman
Read the Full Story
This story was originally reported by Clair McFarland for Cowboy State Daily.