Liz Cheney has decided not to run for the US Senate in Wyoming even though GOP Sen. Mike Enzi has announced his retirement:
STAR TRIBUNE – Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney announced Thursday she will not be making a bid for the U.S. Senate, initiating a reelection campaign some predict could one day lead to her becoming speaker of the house.
In an announcement first provided to the Star-Tribune early Thursday morning, Cheney, who currently sits as the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, said she will not seek the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated next winter by Wyoming’s longtime Sen. Mike Enzi — a move many in the national press had long predicted for Cheney. Enzi announced his retirement in the spring.
Instead, Cheney said, she will be staying put and putting all of her effort toward regaining a majority for Republicans in the House of Representatives.
“Nancy Pelosi and the Socialist Democrats in the House of Representatives are threatening our freedom and our Wyoming values every day. They must be stopped,” Cheney said in a statement. “Our nation is facing grave security challenges overseas and the House Democrats are working to weaken our president and embolden our enemies. Socialists in congress and among the presidential candidates are threatening our liberty and freedom.”
“I believe I can have the biggest impact for the people of Wyoming by remaining in leadership in the House of Representatives and working (to) take our Republican majority back,” she added. “I will not be running for the Senate in 2020. I plan to seek re-election to the House of Representatives.”
It’s not every day that we hear of someone in the House passing up such a golden opportunity to run for the Senate. Cheney must really believe that she could one day become Speaker of the House.
The fact that she’s not running for the Senate means that Former Rep. Cynthia Lummis, who is already running for Enzi’s seat, will likely be elected as his replacement.