Multiple high-profile Republicans traveled to Wyoming over the weekend to support Rep. Liz Cheney’s primary challenger, Harriet Hageman.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan (R-OH) made the trip.
Joining them were Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
All of these lawmakers accused Cheney of becoming a “RINO” (Republican in name only) at a Trump rally on Saturday.
Targeting Cheney
JUST IN: Liz Cheney formally filed for re-election saying: "We have much left to do…I won’t waver or back down. I won’t surrender to pressure or intimidation"
Press the ‘like’ button if you want to see Congresswoman Cheney winning this race!
— Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 27, 2022
Trump is making Cheney one of his major targets, calling on GOP members to back Hageman, along with criticizing her impeachment vote and choice to join the Jan. 6 select panel to examine the Capitol incident.
Cheney, who filed for reelection Thursday, didn’t back down from her rebuttals of Trump, urging the party to walk away from him.
Cammack told reporters that GOP lawmakers were split on Cheney’s decision to join the Jan. 6 select panel.
The base no longer wants country club Republicans; they want fighters. They want individuals who will stand up and hold Nancy Pelosi responsible, not join the panel of other Republicans who were pulled off of it, Cammack added.
“It’s more about backing an ‘America First’ nominee than anything else. I believe we must be one team, one purpose when we win back the House. I say ‘when’ intentionally because we will,” she said.
McCarthy accused Cheney of “trying to pander to the leftist media.”
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), who did not speak, but flew with Trump to endorse Hageman, said Cheney “would have zero voice” in the party if reelected.
Democrats
“Like many Republicans in my party, I’ve avoided this. I knew the Cheneys. When I arrived at the White House, I helped them.”
“I was her dad’s doctor. I took good care of her and her family and I tried to keep out of this,” Jackson said. “I must speak up now because we’re done.”
Boebert, a staunch supporter of Trump, criticized Cheney for getting rid of a longtime GOP congressman in her race.
Trump criticises Liz Cheney for going after him ‘in the most vicious way possible’ https://t.co/35MAUJJABu
— The Independent (@Independent) May 29, 2022
“I’m Wyoming, a skilled RINO hunter, and your RINO in chief has to be hauled out of Wyoming,” she said. “Liz Cheney might have the DCCC’s funding, but Harriet Hagaman has us, the people.”
Trump supporters say Cheney is a friend of the Democrats, but House Democrats don’t give her any money for her campaign.
Cheney was kicked out of her job as chair of the House Republican Conference because she criticized Trump and voted for his impeachment after the Capitol incident.
Cheney loyalists claim Trump-endorsed contenders’ losses in recent contests demonstrate his backing may not be what it once was. They recall that Cheney voted with the previous president while in office.
The primary is August 16.
