U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) opened herself up to fierce criticism from within her own party earlier this year by leading the GOP effort to vote in favor of impeaching then-President Donald Trump.
It is now clear that she will be contending with more than just angry words as two Republican state lawmakers have indicated that they plan to challenge her in next year’s midterm primary election.
“Well, not anymore”
One opponent is Wyoming state Rep. Chuck Gray, who signaled his intention to compete against Cheney this week.
“It is abundantly clear to those of us who actually live in Wyoming that Liz Cheney views her position as nothing more than a stepping stone, and we’re just supposed to go along with it,” he said. “Well, not anymore.”
Gray went on to declare that his state “agrees with President Trump” in determining that “it is time to get rid of Liz Cheney.”
As for why he believes he is the right candidate to replace her, the state representative pointed to his “proven record of leadership for the people of Wyoming,” which he described as “the polar opposite” of Cheney’s legacy.
“And it is why I am proud to announce my intent to seek the Republican Party’s nomination to serve the citizens of Wyoming in the United States House of Representatives,” Gray concluded.
“Cheney should be run out of town”
In a subsequent tweet on the matter, he wrote: “It’s time for a leader who actually listens to the hard-working people of Wyoming, and not to the D.C. elitists. Join me on my journey as I seek the Republican nomination for the United States Congress.”
A video accompanying that tweet included a voiceover asserting that Cheney’s decision to vote for impeachment “was a betrayal” and “another example of how Liz has lost her way, acting like she’s from Washington, D.C., not Wyoming.”
Gray will not be alone in challenging Cheney from the right. In January, Republican Wyoming state Sen. Anthony Bouchard announced he would be vying for her seat.
“I expect Never Trumpers to do this stuff,” he said at the time in reference to her impeachment vote. “But Cheney should be run out of town, and back to Virginia for joining the blame game!”
Bouchard’s comments came on the heels of a decision by the Wyoming Republican Party to condemn Cheney’s vote, which it described as “a true travesty for Wyoming and the country” and one that “denied President Trump due process.”
The post Second GOP challenger steps up to run against Rep. Liz Cheney in midterm primary race first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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