The Political Insider

Primary day in Wyoming is fast approaching, and things are not looking good for Never Trump Rep. Liz Cheney. She has made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows, and even trotted her extremely unpopular father out as a Hail Mary, but there’s just one problem: she has alienated most of the Republicans in Wyoming.

At least if polling so far is to believed.

Cheney is now forced to beg Democrats to vote for her in the August 16 primary – even to the point of including on campaign mailers and websites instructions for how Democrats can switch party affiliation in order to vote in the Republican primary.

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State Of The Campaign

Liz Cheney’s primary opponent is Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. For Hageman, Cheney’s vote to impeach Trump and her participation on the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot have been huge campaign advantages in a state that Trump carried in 2020 with 70% of the vote, with just 26% for Joe Biden.

Carly Miller is Harriet Hageman’s campaign manager. She summed up Cheney’s need to court Democrat and Independent voters this way:

“When Liz Cheney’s only hope is to appeal to Democrats to raid a Republican primary, you know she has gone all the way over to Nancy Pelosi’s side. Wyoming is fed up with Cheney and it’s too late for any election shenanigans to save her.”

But some Wyoming Democrats are taking the bait.

Wyoming Public Media talked to K.O Strohbehn, a Democrat who changed party affiliation to vote for Cheney. She says, “She’s one of the few that is living up to her oath of office.”

But in the reddest state in the nation, is a vote for Cheney ultimately just a no vote for Donald Trump or someone who supports him?

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Cheney Getting Some Help From Her Friends

Liz Cheney is even getting some help from her Democrat colleagues in Congress. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) is urging his fellow Democrats to vote for Cheney. 

In a post on Twitter Dean stated, “You might be a little surprised that I’d be supporting Liz Cheney in her bid to continue representing Wyoming in the U.S. House. It’s far more important than any policy differences we might have.”

Phillips added that Cheney would be “sending a very clear message to Donald Trump, and protecting our democracy.”

Cheney has also enlisted the help of her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, to encourage other Trump-obsessed voters to send her back to Washington.

Things started going downhill for Cheney long before the upcoming primary. Last year, Cheney lost her leadership position as GOP Caucus chair. Also in November of 2021, the Wyoming GOP voted to no longer recognize her as a member of the Republican Party.

In February the Republican National Committee censured both Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) for their roles on the Jan. 6 Committee, and in March, House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) endorsed Hageman. 

Liz Cheney may have Trump Derangement Syndrome, but she may also have a case of John McCain Syndrome, believing Democrats actually like you because you are willing to throw your own party under the bus.