John Barrasso Bio
John Anthony Barrasso III (born July 21, 1952) is an American physician and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Wyoming, a seat he has held since 2007. A member of the Republican Party, he became Senate majority whip, the second-ranking Senate Republican, in 2025. A trained orthopedic surgeon, Barrasso practiced medicine in Casper, Wyoming, for more than two decades before entering full-time public service.
Before joining Congress, Barrasso built a medical career in Wyoming, chaired the Senate Republican Conference beginning in 2018, and has been the dean of Wyoming’s congressional delegation since 2021. He is known for his work on energy policy, health care, and Senate Republican leadership.
Early Life and Background
John Anthony Barrasso III was born on July 21, 1952, in Reading, Pennsylvania, the son of Louise M. DeCisco and John Anthony Barrasso Jr. His father was a cement finisher with a ninth-grade education. Barrasso is a third-generation Italian-American, with paternal grandparents from Carife in Campania and maternal grandparents from Vasto in Abruzzo.
Barrasso graduated from the former Central Catholic High School, which later merged with Holy Name High School to form Berks Catholic High School. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for two years and joined the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He then transferred to Georgetown University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Barrasso went on to receive his M.D. from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1978. He completed his medical residency at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut, finishing in 1983. His early academic path combined engineering studies with a strong focus on medicine.
Path to US Politics
After finishing his residency at Yale in 1983, Barrasso moved to Wyoming with his then-wife, Linda Nix. He joined a private orthopedic practice in Casper and later served as chief of staff at the Wyoming Medical Center. For 24 years, he worked as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Casper from 1983 to 2007, while also serving as a team physician for Casper College and several local high schools and as a rodeo physician for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Barrasso first entered politics in 1996, when he ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Alan K. Simpson. He lost the primary narrowly to State Senator Mike Enzi, 32% to 30%, in a nine-candidate race. Following that loss, Barrasso’s positions on social issues shifted in a more conservative direction, and he built a base of support in Wyoming.
In 2002, Barrasso was elected to the Wyoming State Senate unopposed and was reelected unopposed in 2006, representing the 27th Senate District, including part of Casper. During his time in the state legislature, he chaired the Transportation and Highways Committee, gaining experience that prepared him for higher office.
John Barrasso Career
Early Career (1996-2007)
Barrasso’s early political career was defined by his 1996 U.S. Senate primary loss and his steady rise in Wyoming state politics. After being elected to the Wyoming State Senate in 2002, he quickly became a leading voice on transportation and infrastructure issues, chairing the Transportation and Highways Committee throughout his tenure.
He was reelected without opposition in 2006, which positioned him as a prominent figure in Wyoming’s Republican establishment. His medical background and statewide visibility set the stage for his next opportunity in federal office.
U.S. Senate Appointment (2007-2008)
On June 22, 2007, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal appointed Barrasso to replace Senator Craig L. Thomas, who had died in office earlier that month. Because the seat had been vacated by a Republican, the governor was required to choose from three individuals selected by the Republican State Central Committee. The other candidates considered were former State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis and former Republican state chairman Tom Sansonetti.
Barrasso then won the Republican nomination for the balance of Thomas’s third term and defeated Democratic nominee Nick Carter with 73% of the vote in the special election. He began serving in the U.S. Senate in 2007 and was sworn in to finish Thomas’s term.
Senate Reelections and Leadership Rise (2012-Present)
Barrasso ran for a first full term in 2012, winning the Republican primary with 90% of the vote and defeating Democratic nominee Tim Chestnut with 76% of the vote in the general election. He was reelected again in 2018, winning the Republican primary with 65% of the vote and defeating Democrat Gary Trauner and Libertarian Joseph Porambo with 67% of the vote.
In 2024, Barrasso faced Casper Executive Reid Rasner in the Republican primary, defeating him 67.9% to 24.5%, and went on to defeat Democratic nominee Scott Morrow with 75.1% of the vote in the general election. In 2018, Barrasso was selected as chair of the Senate Republican Conference, and in 2024, he declined to run for Senate Republican leader and instead announced his candidacy for Republican Whip. Starting in the 119th Congress, he serves as the Senate majority whip, the second-ranking position among Senate Republicans.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Barrasso’s most significant moments came in May 2022, when he visited Kyiv as part of a U.S. Senate delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The delegation also traveled to Finland to meet with President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in support of Finland’s NATO application. Barrasso also authored bipartisan sanctions legislation targeting companies partnering with Russia’s Gazprom on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
John Barrasso Career Wins
John Barrasso has compiled a strong record of electoral victories in Wyoming, winning every major race he has entered since 2002 by wide margins. His success reflects his popularity in a reliably Republican state and his standing within the state party.
U.S. Senate Election Highlights
Barrasso won his first U.S. Senate race in 2007 with 73% of the vote in a special election. He followed that with commanding victories in 2012 (76%), 2018 (67%), and 2024 (75.1%). Each of his general-election wins came against a Democratic opponent, and he consistently secured more than two-thirds of the vote. His only Senate primary loss came in 1996, when he finished two points behind Mike Enzi in a crowded Republican field.
Other Wins and Achievements
Barrasso was elected to the Wyoming State Senate unopposed in 2002 and reelected unopposed in 2006, representing the 27th Senate District. In 2018, he was selected by his colleagues to chair the Senate Republican Conference, and in 2025, he was elevated to Senate majority whip, becoming the second-ranking Republican in the chamber. He has also served as president of the Wyoming Medical Society and as chief of staff at Wyoming Medical Center.
John Barrasso Family
Family Background and Heritage
Barrasso was raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, by his parents, Louise M. DeCisco and John Anthony Barrasso Jr. His father was a cement finisher with a ninth-grade education, and the family roots trace back to Carife in Campania and Vasto in Abruzzo, Italy. Barrasso is a third-generation Italian-American, and he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Personal Life
Barrasso has three children. He was previously married to Linda Nix, with whom he moved to Wyoming in 1983; the couple later divorced. On August 11, 2007, Barrasso became engaged to Bobbi Brown, a breast cancer survivor who had directed his state senate offices; they married on January 1, 2008, in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Bobbi Brown died of brain cancer on January 25, 2024, and was known for her advocacy on mental health and suicide prevention.