# Marshall Burt

Marshall A. Burt (born May 6, 1976) is an American politician who served in the Wyoming House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, Burt previously was a Libertarian while he represented the 39th district from 2021 to 2023. Burt was the first third-party candidate elected to the Wyoming Legislature in over 100 years.

## Early life and career

Marshall A. Burt was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served nine years in Okinawa, Japan, and in the Iraq War. He is employed by the Union Pacific Railroad as a track inspector.

## Wyoming House of Representatives
### Elections
#### 2020

In the 2020 Wyoming House of Representatives election, Burt was one of six Wyoming Libertarian candidates running in competitive districts. Burt ran in the 39th district. In a two-way race, Burt defeated his Democratic opponent, longtime incumbent Stan Blake, receiving 53.6% of the vote to Blake's 44.9%. Burt was the first Libertarian candidate to be elected to a state legislature since Steve Vaillancourt in 2000, and the first third-party candidate elected in Wyoming in over a century.

#### 2022

Burt ran for re-election in the 2022 Wyoming House of Representatives election against Republican Cody Wylie. Burt was defeated by Wylie, receiving 25% of the vote to Wylie's 75%.

#### 2024

In May 2024, Burt announced he would be running for his old seat as a Republican, after he left the Libertarian Party.

### Tenure

In March 2021, Burt alongside a bipartisan group of house members, co–sponsored legislation that legalizes the sale, purchase, possession, and cultivation of cannabis, for any Wyoming citizen over the age of twenty–one. The bill missed its deadline to be considered by the house after a committee voted to approve it, and subsequently died on the house floor. A bill identical to the March 2021 bill that would legalize cannabis was reintroduced in February 2022. Burt, once again, alongside a bipartisan group of house members, co–sponsored this legislation.
During that same month, Burt introduced legislation to help persons with disabilities extend their access to motorcycles. The bill was passed unanimously through both the Wyoming House and Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Mark Gordon. Speaker Eric Barlow also recognized the Libertarian Party as a minority party in the House, and Burt became the chairman of the Libertarian caucus.

### Committee assignments

* Wyoming House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs
** Joint Subcommittee on Interstate Compact on Students of Military Families
* Wyoming House Committee on Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

## Political positions
### Gun policy

Burt is a gun-rights supporter and opposes expanding gun control regulations. He opposes all gun registration and instant background checks, and calls for "no permit or residency required for either open or concealed carry [in the state of Wyoming]".

### Healthcare

Burt opposes federal and state vaccine mandates, calling them "unconstitutional".

## Personal life

Burt lives in Green River, Wyoming, with his wife, Theresa Burt and his two children. He is a Lutheran.

## Electoral history

2020 Wyoming House of Representatives election, District 39 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Marshall Burt | 1,696 | 53.6 |
| | Democratic | Stan Blake (incumbent) | 1,421 | 44.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 47 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,164 | 100% |
| | Libertarian gain from Democratic | Libertarian gain from Democratic | Libertarian gain from Democratic | Libertarian gain from Democratic |
2022 Wyoming House of Representatives election, District 39 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Cody Wylie | 1,763 | 74.4% | +74.4 |
| | Libertarian | Marshall Burt (incumbent) | 586 | 24.7% | –28.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 20 | 0.8% | –0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,369 | 100% | |
| | Republican gain from Libertarian | Republican gain from Libertarian | Republican gain from Libertarian | Republican gain from Libertarian | Republican gain from Libertarian |