Tom Kelly is a Republican state representative for House District 30 in Sheridan County, Wyoming. A first-time politician elected in 2024, he resides in Sheridan with his family of six children , where he enjoys motorcycling, shooting, sports, and teaching martial arts as a 2nd degree black belt in tae kwon do. Originally from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, he describes himself as a "refugee from bad policies," moving from Illinois to Colorado and then to Wyoming in 2019 for its values of family, independence, faith, and liberty. At 56 years old , he is a Christian and self-described "ruggedly independent, Reagan Republican."

Education and Political Experience

Kelly holds a Ph.D. in political science and a master's degree in education. He worked 10 years as a public school teacher of social studies and special education, plus as a paraprofessional. Currently, he serves as chair of the Department of Political and Military Science at American Military University, with seven years leading educators.

In politics, he unsuccessfully ran for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2022 and was the top choice of the Wyoming Republican Party Central Committee to fill a vacancy that year. Endorsed by former Rep. Mark Jennings, he won the 2024 Republican primary and general election for House District 30, joining a Republican supermajority and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus wave. As a freshman lawmaker , he serves on the Joint Committee on Education, Joint Committee on Judiciary, House Education Committee, and Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration. In February 2026, he announced another run for Superintendent of Public Instruction, advocating local control, reduced regulations, and school choice vouchers.