UNITED STATES: Voters in the American state of Wyoming have ousted Republican congresswoman and long-time rival and critic of Trump’s policies, Liz Cheney, in a primary election.
Cheney was trumped by a relative newcomer and Trump-backed candidate, Harriet Hageman.
Cheney displayed extraordinary boldness when she became one of the only two members of her party to get involved in the congressional committee investigating the former President’s attempts to hold onto power.
The three-term congresswoman was once a Republican favourite and rising star in the political arena, who slowly lost momentum when she got targeted in a vicious agenda of revenge, along with nine other Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after his supporters marched on the Capitol in January 2021 with intentions of insurrection and chaos.
The Republicans have gained ground since four candidates have retired and the other four have been beaten by Trump’s chosen favourites in primary ballots in states like Wyoming, Washington, Michigan, and South Carolina.
Wyoming state seems to have a red streak as nearly 70% of voters cast their ballots for red, as per polls.
Ironically, according to polls on news networks, Harriet Hageman started out ahead of Cheney in Wyoming by almost 30 points.
Hageman has consistently argued that the election was “rigged.” Hageman had already been declared the winner by Tuesday night due to her wide margin.
Cheney would not bow down even in her concession speech, as she maintained that she would continue to oppose Trump, who has expressed desires to run again in 2024.
“I have said since [last year’s Capitol riot on] 6 January that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again near the Oval Office, and I mean it,” she said.
The Trump bandwagon was also revving. The former president tweeted a note of congratulations for Hageman and in clear Trumpian fashion, also remarked in a derogatory manner towards the losing side.
“Liz Cheney should be ashamed of herself, the way she acted, and her spiteful, sanctimonious words and actions towards others. Now she can finally disappear into the depths of political oblivion where I am sure, she will be much happier than she is right now,” he added.
Hageman lauded Trump’s endorsement as the reason for her victory. She said, “Wyoming has put the elites on notice. We are no longer going to tolerate representatives who don’t represent us.”
Liz Cheney’s reputation has taken a backseat ever since she began her anti-Trump agenda when the business tycoon came to power in 2016. Her father, Dick Cheney, who was once a prime hate figure of the ‘radical Left’, has now become somewhat of an endorser of the anti-Trump propaganda.
Following her father’s steps, Liz Cheney vigorously opposed Trump, but she got trumped at the midterms.
At the voting booth in a quaint schoolhouse backed by the Teton Mountains, middle-aged voters turned up to show support for Cheney. Even Democrat voters changed their sides to lend help to Cheney’s cause, proving how weak she was in the primary.
One man was quoted saying, “I’m a Democrat and I came out and voted for Liz Cheney because she’s standing up for the truth and that’s what we need in this country.”
Wyoming’s primary elections have never invited national attention, but Tuesday’s vote was another sign of the changing times- how the indelible legacy of Trump and his election-denying-narrative continue to influence the future of America.
Also Read: Passports ‘Stolen’ By the FBI During August 8 Raid, Trump Alleges on Twitter
