President Donald Trump and his allies have been quietly moving to checkmate Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) in her looming Wyoming primary race.
According to a new report in Politico, Trump is moving to cut off Cheney’s “political escape hatch.”
Trump endorsed and is pushing Wyoming legislation that would prevent crossover voting in a primary election.
If the law passes, Cheney would need to rely on only Republican voters in the primary, not Democrats or independents.
The bill was introduced by Republican state Sen. Bo Biteman and both Trump and Club for Growth’s David McIntosh have been calling Wyoming Republicans to muster support for the bill according to the report.
Michael Perlman, communications director for GOP governor Mark Gordon, said:
“The Governor has had many conversations about this issue, including with President Trump and David McIntosh, however characterizing that as ‘pressure’ would be incorrect.
“Governor Gordon is going to do what’s best for Wyoming and he respects the legislative process.”
Trump said:
“This critically important bill ensures that the voters in each party will separately choose their nominees for the General Election, which is how it should be.
“It makes total sense that only Democrats vote in the Democrat primary and only Republicans vote in the Republican primary.”
That may be harder than you would think because some in the GOP say Gordon won his primary with crossover votes.
House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik endorsed Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney’s primary opponent, Harriet Hageman, today. So did the next Speaker Kevin McCarthy adding to Cheney’s problems.
“I’m proud to endorse Harriet Hageman in her race to unseat Liz Cheney,” Stefanik said.
She added: “House Republicans were ready for a change when I took over as Conference Chair, and it’s resoundingly clear that Wyoming families are too.
“Harriet is a true America First patriot who will restore the people of Wyoming’s voice that has been long forgotten by Liz Cheney.”
Hageman said:
“I am honored and grateful to have the support of Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is an excellent representative for her own constituents and a fantastic chairwoman of the House Republican Conference.
“She is proof that it is possible to fight for your principles in Washington, D.C. while also staying true to what your constituents want you to do.
“It is fitting that I am receiving the endorsement of the congresswoman who replaced Liz Cheney as chair of the Republican Conference because it exemplifies exactly how Cheney has abandoned her responsibilities.
“In Wyoming, we only get one member of the House of Representatives, and so we have to get it right.
“Cheney has turned her back on us, and used the Congressional seat we entrusted her with to further her own personal goals.
“At the same time, she has aided Speaker Nancy Pelosi in damaging the Republican Party as a willing pawn of the Democrats.
“When I am the Congresswoman from Wyoming, I will always remember who sent me to Congress, and I will always fight for what is best for our wonderful state,” she said.
