The bitter rivalry between former President Donald Trump and Rep. Liz Cheney will come to a head Tuesday as Wyoming voters decide who will take the victory lap in the high-profile Republican primary. But regardless of the outcome, their rivalry — and Cheney’s future in politics — is far from over. Cheney, a member of a political dynasty, has called herself an “outsider” in the Wyoming race. Trump, still a force in the GOP, attacked her fiercely. Her fellow Republicans in Congress and some in Wyoming have disowned her. She is polling behind her Trump-backed opponent Harriet Hageman. As vice chairman of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill, Cheney has helped hold eight public hearings designed to show Trump’s guilt but have so far failed to dramatically change public opinion. Her campaign has reached out to red-state Democrats to win more votes. Even if Cheney is defeated, she is widely expected to remain in the spotlight and continue her fight to rid the Republican Party of Trump. The three-term congresswoman has repeatedly expressed her commitment to debunking Trump’s 2020 campaign lies, blaming him for the Capitol attack and calling him a “threat” to the country. In her latest campaign ad released Thursday, Cheney pledged to “work every day to ensure that our great nation endures for a long time.” “No matter how long we have to fight, this is a battle we will win,” he added. And in addition to remaining a fixture in national politics, Cheney’s allies believe she has a bright career ahead of her, even if she is kicked out of Congress. Some are floating possibilities like a presidential run or a top job in a future Republican administration. “I hope she wins. I’ve hosted a fundraiser for her. But I recognize that in the age of Trump that might not be possible,” Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a prominent critic of the former president, told Insider. “We’ll see what happens, but I don’t think she’s gone by any means. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run for president.” A campaign poster reads “Cheney for Wyoming” in Wyoming on May 27. Oma Seddiq/Insider
What could be next for Cheney?
The 56-year-old congresswoman, who grew up in the political sphere as the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, has quickly cultivated a national presence over the past year, positioning her well for life after the primaries. Her campaign was more about defending the Constitution and the peaceful transfer of power — messages that drew bipartisan support nationally — and less about bread-and-butter issues in Wyoming. Some of Cheney’s record $13 million in fundraising, raised by both Republican and Democratic donors across the country, could potentially be used for a future campaign. As Trump hints at a 2024 run, Cheney says her first priority is making sure he never gets near the Oval Office again. “Would she like to win her primary? Absolutely. But it’s also much more than that to her. That’s why she’s campaigning differently than anyone else running for re-election,” said Doug Heye, a longtime Republican strategist. Knowledgeable. Regardless of the results, Cheney has proven that “she’s not going to go away quietly — that this is a long-term battle,” she added. It is certain that Cheney has indicated that she intends to seek re-election. She tried to avoid entertaining discussions about her future if defeated by Hageman, a natural resources lawyer and former Republican National Committee member. Still, Cheney has not been immune to the 2024 talks and has left the door open for a run. She has warned her party against electing Trump, if he chooses to launch a third campaign, as its nominee. “I’ll make a decision on ’24 down the road,” he told ABC News in July. Cheney’s allies want him to hang on as the Wyoming congressman, but they are also encouraged by the possibility of him running for the White House. “I’d like to see her win the election. If she doesn’t, I think she’d be a great presidential candidate in ’24,” Joe McGinley, the Natrona County, Wyoming, Republican state committeeman told Insider. “Having someone who is willing to be realistic and deal with problems is what we’re missing right now in our country. I think Cheney would be a great opportunity to bridge the gap between Democrats, Republicans, independents.” “I think he still has a bright future ahead of him in politics and in the Republican party,” he added. Rep. Liz Cheney at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California on June 29. Richard Harbaugh/ABC via Getty Images
“I hope her star continues to rise”
It is unclear whether there would be enough support in the Republican Party for a Cheney presidential nomination with Trump as the de facto leader. She has received endorsements for re-election in Wyoming from a number of prominent Republicans, including Romney, former President George W. Bush and former House Speaker Paul Ryan. But Trump’s hold on the party looms large. “How big is her support within the Republican Party? One, I don’t think we can tell right now, it’s too early in terms of 2024,” said Gunner Ramer, political director of the anti-Trump group Republican Accountability Project. Knowledgeable. “But it’s great to have at least one Republican who is a national figure willing to put the Constitution and the truth ahead of a figure in a political party that is Donald Trump.” Cheney could also potentially follow in her father’s footsteps and run for a future presidential candidate — one who is obviously not Trump. Or, playing up her national security background, she could seek a powerful Cabinet position under a future GOP administration. “If Cheney is undecided and no longer has a seat in Congress, I think he’ll land. He’ll be fine,” Susan Stubson, a Cheney supporter and precinct committeeman for the Natrona County GOP, told Insider. “Secretary of Defense makes a lot of sense to me, Secretary of State, all these positions.” Whatever job Cheney ends up in, even if she is still Wyoming’s sole representative, she will remain a vocal critic of Trump. In recent months, she has been beating the drum against Trump in interviews and speeches. The Jan. 6 panel, which lays out its case against Trump, has more public hearings scheduled for this fall. “I intend to continue to be very involved and engaged — again no matter what — on these issues that are so fundamental, I think, to the survival of our democracy,” Cheney told CNN in an interview that aired last year. week. Stubson, a self-described “Big Stage” Republican, told Insider that while she’s worried Cheney might lose Tuesday, she thinks it’s “so important” that she keep her voice in the public debate. “I’m really excited and optimistic about her trajectory. I hope her star continues to rise nationally,” Stubson said. “It’s clear to me that Cheney’s message and the case he’s making for democracy resonates.”
