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Liz Cheney Already Has A 2022 Primary Challenger After Voting For Trump Impeachment

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Jan 20, 2021, 01:49pm EST

Topline

Wyoming’s sole Congressional representative, Republican Liz Cheney, will face at least one primary challenger if she seeks to run for reelection in the 2022 midterms, following backlash from supporters of former President Donald Trump after she became the most prominent member of the GOP to vote for Trump’s impeachment.

Key Facts

Cheney will be challenged by fellow Republican Anthony Bouchard, who has served as a Wyoming state senator since 2017.

Bouchard has been a sharp critic of Cheney since her impeachment vote on Jan. 13, at one point saying on Facebook she should be “run out of town.”

Cheney was one of just 10 GOP representatives to vote for impeachment, which was enough support to make the impeachment the most bipartisan in terms of House support in American history.

Cheney was first elected to Wyoming’s at-large House district in 2016, and became chairwoman of the House Republican Conference in 2019.

Crucial Quote

“Liz Cheney’s long-time opposition to President Trump and her most recent vote for Impeachment shows just how out-of-touch she is with Wyoming,” Bouchard said in a news release.

Key Background

Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, strongly rebuked Trump after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, saying "There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution." Since that vote, there have been calls from Republicans like Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, to remove her from the GOP leadership position. 

What To Watch For

At some point, the Senate will hold an unprecedented second impeachment trial for Trump, even though he is now out of office. Republicans in the Senate are expected to be much more open to the idea of voting against Trump compared to their House colleagues. Even Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell is said to be considering a vote to convict Trump.

Big Number

70%. That’s how much of the vote Trump won in Wyoming in 2020—the highest level of support he had in any state.

Further Reading

These 10 Republicans Voted To Impeach Trump In An Unprecedented Break From Party (Forbes)

‘Derelict In His Duty’: Senate Republicans Warm To Convicting Trump As Trial Looms (Forbes)

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