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]
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]
Private sector career
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]
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]
Electoral history
Wyoming House of Representatives' 16th district election, 2022
