Rep. Liz Cheney loses primary against Trump-backed Hageman

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the fiercest and most vocal Republican critic of former President Donald Trump, lost her primary Tuesday night in a race that reinforced Trump’s influence in the party.

The three-term congresswoman faced a challenge from Trump-backed Harriet Hageman, who was once an ally of Cheney and critic of Trump in 2016.

In a pointed address following her concession to Hageman, Cheney, Wyoming’s lone House representative, vowed to continue her fight to make sure Trump is never again elected president.

“Our work is far from over,” she said from her campaign headquarters in Jackson, Wyoming. “This is not a game.”

Cheney’s political future was cast in doubt this year following her decision to vote to impeach Trump and serve as vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. Prior to Tuesday’s election, she trailed in multiple polls by over 20 points.