Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Intellectuals of varied stripes—Never-Trump Republicans, social democrats, and MAGA conservatives—have all been critical of the GOP establishment. This chapter draws on the book’s empirical findings to show what is missing from these critiques, arguing instead for a balanced and grounded evaluation of the Republican establishment. We confirm that the establishment in Wyoming has sometimes been arrogant; and it has sought to serve the interests of state elites in agriculture, ranching and energy. But the “old guard” also governed with a sense of noblesse oblige and public spiritedness. This led it to craft a revenue structure that taps the wealth of the state’s energy sector—rather than taxing Wyoming residents—to provide citizens with tens of thousands of dollars in services. Furthermore, the establishment’s very elitism has allowed it to play a critical role in modeling democratic norms of civility and tolerance. Finally, a fuller assessment of the establishment must include not just nationally prominent elites but also the state-level politicians who fight every day to stop the MAGA-fication of their party.</jats:p>