After months of deliberation, Liz Cheney chose the opportunity to become the first Republican woman to be elected speaker of the House over the influence and prestige of the Senate.
The move surprised Republicans — among them many of Cheney’s colleagues. The Wyoming congresswoman briefly ran for the Senate in 2014, challenging Sen. Mike Enzi in the Republican primary before dropping out. With Enzi opting to retire, and especially with her keen interest in foreign affairs, colleagues expected Cheney to jump at the chance to vault to the Senate.
But the No. 3-ranking House Republican revealed Thursday that she had decided otherwise. To make an immediate move up, Cheney would have to challenge two allies of President Trump: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California or House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, both 54.
“I really love the House,” Cheney told the Washington Examiner. As Wyoming’s at-large representative and House Republican Conference chairwoman, she is filling two posts once held by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Cheney, 53, declined to comment on her leadership aspirations. But the congresswoman indicated that her upward trajectory in the House clarified her decision.
“The choice between staying here in House leadership, being somebody who can help to lead the fight against Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, against socialism, against what the Democrats are trying to do to weaken the country, versus the alternative of running for being a freshman senator, for me, it was very clear that I could have a much bigger impact here,” Cheney said.
A connected Republican lobbyist said Cheney “must be confident there is a pathway to higher leadership in the House” to pass up an open Senate seat — a platform for higher office that would have been hers for as long as she wanted. Concern about competing in an uncertain Republican primary against former Rep. Cynthia Lummis, now the shoo-in to succeed Enzi, also might have affected Cheney’s direction.
Cheney was elected to Congress in 2016 and quickly established herself.
As conference chairwoman, Cheney helps with House GOP messaging strategy. Her colleagues have been impressed with her results, lauding her tactical acumen and the tenacious way she rips Democrats and defends the party. Had she run for Senate, she would almost assuredly have immediately relinquished her leadership post, and House Republicans were relieved that she is sticking around.
“She’s a strong leader, and I am glad she’s staying in the House and staying in leadership,” said Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina.
Rep. Devin Nunes of California, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said, “She will be a force in the House for years to come.”
