What type of wasp is this?
It is hard to tell from the image, but using this species key for Polistes wasps, it is reasonable to conclude that your wasp is either P. metricus or P. fuscatus.

If you look at this image of a P. metricus female, you can see the dull reddish markings on the abdomen:



On your image, you can see the same markings on the abdomen, at a different angle:



Based on these markings, your wasp is most likely Polistes metricus. You can read more about this insect here and here.

Here is a link to the image I modified.