As Democrats take power in both congressional chambers and the White House, Republicans on Capitol Hill face in-fighting and tension among their own ranks.
Due to her vote to impeach then-President Donald Trump, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, finds herself in the middle of a firestorm of GOP lawmakers seeking to oust her from her leadership post.
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” she said about her vote for the single impeachment article put forward by House Democrats, targeting Trump’s rhetorical role in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege.
Cheney must also contend with Republicans in her own state who blasted her following her impeachment vote. One Wyoming county Republican Party committee voted to censure the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney for the act.
Although House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently stated he did not support ousting Cheney from leadership when members of the House Freedom Caucus circulated a petition to do so, the California Republican, who voted against impeachment, signified his support for the Trump legacy Wednesday.
As Trump boarded Air Force One with his family to leave the beltway during his last few hours as president, McCarthy’s office shot off an email highlighting five of Trump’s accomplishments while in office: tax reform, border security, trade deals, Operation Warp Speed, and reforming veterans affairs.
“Four years ago, President Trump and Vice President Pence came to Washington on a mission—to make America great again. They may have even kept more promises than they made. To that end, these are the top five Trump-Pence accomplishments that Leader McCarthy is proud to have helped make happen,” the message from McCarthy’s office stated.
The move by McCarthy is not unusual as he looks at how Republicans can win back the confidence of the Trump-supporting party base that views most GOP lawmakers and officials with anger and suspicion, in an effort to take back the majority of the lower chamber that Democrats currently hold by a slim margin. McCarthy is currently the odds-on favorite to be speaker, with the House narrowly divided and Republicans having strong prospects in the 2022 midterm elections.
Cheney may have ambitions of her own, though. While she may not be popular with House Freedom Caucus members, she still managed to win the number three conference leadership position for a second time, just a few weeks ago before the Capitol attack.
Cheney, who stuck with the president when it came to most policymaking positions, was once floated last cycle to replace retiring Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, only to decide otherwise and avoided a potentially politically ugly primary after Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, a political foe of the Cheney family, encouraged former Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis to run instead.
As a result of Cheney’s decision to stay in the House, many speculate she wants to become the next Republican speaker of the House. When asked by the Casper Star Tribune if that is what she was aiming for, she remained vague in her response.
“My decision is very much based on where I can be most effective for Wyoming,” she said. “The people of Wyoming have elected me, and it’s important to recognize the damage that could be done to the people of Wyoming in terms of the policies Democrats in the House are pursuing.”
