Wyoming's Liz Cheney took a stand and pays the price

Once a Trump sycophant, Congresswoman put principles over party to lead January 6 committee to investigate former president and associates

Liz Cheney, US Representative, waves during her primary election night party in Jackson, Wyoming. Reuters

Ms Cheney, Donald Trump's fiercest Republican adversary in Congress, speaks at the event. Reuters

JACKSON, WYOMING - AUGUST 16: U. S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) departs after speaking to supporters during a primary night event on August 16, 2022 in Jackson, Wyoming. Rep. Cheney was defeated in her primary race by Wyoming Republican congressional candidate Harriet Hageman. Alex Wong / Getty Images / AFP

Former US vice president Dick Cheney, Ms Cheney's father, at the Jackson party. Reuters

Mr Cheney attended the election night gathering with his wife Lynne. AP

The former vice president listens to his daughter's remarks. AFP

Ms Cheney hugs a supporter. Reuters

She may turn her attention to a 2024 presidential run after her election night disappointment. AFP

Ms Hageman celebrates her triumph at a party in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Bloomberg

Ms Hageman poses with a child at the event. AFP

The winning candidate Harriet Hageman celebrates with her husband John Sundahl. Reuters

Hageman supporters party in Cheyenne. Bloomberg

Ms Hageman addresses supporters at the event. AFP

Supporters take pictures of the winning candidate. AP

Liz Cheney, the scion of Wyoming’s most powerful political family, whose voting record mirrored that of former US president Donald Trump, suffered a crushing defeat in her state’s Republican Congressional primary on Tuesday night.

The three-term Congresswoman and daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney fell out of favour with conservative supporters after she bucked party trends, refused to accept Mr Trump's "Big Lie" and then helped to lead the January 6 committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol by pro-Trump supporters.

She told a small group of supporters gathered in Jackson, Wyoming, that her path to victory was “clear” but it would have “required that I go along with president Trump’s lie about the 2020 election".

From the beginning of her campaign, Ms Cheney was adamant that she was willing to lose if it meant defending the constitution.

“It would have required that I enable his ongoing efforts to unravel our democratic system and attack the foundations of our republic,” she said.

Once considered a rising star in the party, her loss to Harriet Hageman, who received Mr Trump’s endorsement, reveals just how far right the Republican party has slid and how powerful the former president’s grip on it remains.

“It means there is going to be one fewer moderate within the US House of Representatives,'' said Brian Smith, professor of political science at St Edward's University in Austin, Texas.

“Liz Cheney is by no means a moderate but she's more to the centre than a lot of Republicans.

A sign for Harriet Hageman along Highway 191. Ms Hageman holds a double-digit lead over incumbent Liz Cheney. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National

Kevin McFadden, a Republican, says he will not vote for Ms Cheney because he feels she doesn't represent the people of Wyoming, a common refrain.

The headquarters of the Republican Party in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The group Principles First Conservatives poses for a picture outside a doughnut shop that doubles as a sushi restaurant.

Polly Calhoun knocks on a prospective voter's door to urge them to vote for Ms Cheney in Tuesday's Republican Primary.

Lee Annis, who has been a registered Republican since 1972, drove from outside Washington, DC, to help drum up support for Ms Cheney.

A grassy plain off Highway 191. Wyoming is a mostly rural state filled with farmland, plains and mountains.

A pro-gun bumper sticker on the back of an old pick-up truck in Cheyenne.

A sign for Liz Cheney sits at an intersection in Jackson, Wyoming.

People gather in the Cheyenne city centre for a concert.

The old depot in Cheyenne.

Shoshone National Forest, one of several national parks and forests in Wyoming.

Polly Calhoun knocks on a prospective voter's door to urge them to vote for Ms Cheney.

Ms Calhoun walks towards the home of a prospective Republican voter in Cheyenne.

A sign for Ms Cheney hangs in Riverton, Wyoming.

A Cheney sign hangs from a motor home on the side of a state highway.

A sign for Harriet Hageman along Highway 191. Ms Hageman holds a double-digit lead over Ms Cheney.

The Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne.

Evan Wagner and his dog Hiko travelled from Austin, Texas, to support Ms Cheney in Wyoming.

A sign urging Wyoming voters to 'Ditch Liz' sits along Highway 80 outside of Laramie, Wyoming.

Shoshone National Forest, one of several national parks and forests in Wyoming.

The Grand Teton Mountains rise above Jackson.

A desolate stretch of state Highway 191. Wyoming is large, rural state.

Heath Mayo explains a plan for 'door knocking' to drum up support for Ms Cheney.

A man attends an outdoor music festival in Cheyenne.

The Wyoming Republican Party office in Cheyenne.

Polly Calhoun and Emily Hughes prepare to knock on doors for Ms Cheney in Cheyenne.

The Wrangler building in the Cheyenne city centre. The capital of Wyoming still feels very much like an old frontier town.

Members of the group Principles First Conservatives meet inside Delectable Donuts in Cheyenne.

The Cowboy Bar in Jackson. The liberal enclave may be key to Ms Cheney's political success.

A rural church on the side of Highway 191.

Tourist gather in the town square in Jackson. Democrats in the liberal enclave are switching parties to vote for Ms Cheney in the Republican primary.

Heath Mayo, founder of Principles First Conservatives, speaks to members before Tuesday's Republican primary.

Polly Calhoun, who drove 15 hours from Minnesota to knock on doors for Ms Cheney, speaks with a fellow Principles First Conservative.

Shoshone National Forest, one of several national parks and forests in Wyoming.

Throughout the campaign, one of the major frustrations raised by voters was that Ms Cheney was elected to serve them and they supported Trump, therefore she was betraying their confidence.

“Trust is hugely important,” Mr Smith told The National. “For some voters, it's as important as religion, that linkage between the voter and their representative, such that when the representative does bipartisanship votes for the other side, or in this case, serves on the January 6 hearing, it’s looked at as a form of betrayal."

After accepting defeat, Ms Cheney invoked the words of Abraham Lincoln, widely revered as one the country’s greatest Republican leaders, feeding rumours she could make a run for the White House.

“The great and original champion of our party, Abraham Lincoln, was defeated in elections for the Senate and the House before he won the most important election of all," she said.

"Lincoln ultimately prevailed, he saved our union and he defined our obligation as Americans for all of history."

But experts believe with the current state of the Republican Party, Ms Cheney will have an exceedingly difficult path to the Oval Office.

“She'd be underfunded and have a hard time winning primaries in deep red states,” said Mr Smith.

Mr Trump rejoiced in Ms Cheney's defeat.

"Liz Cheney is a fool who played right into the hands of those who want to destroy our country," he posted on social media.

For some, it is almost unfathomable that Ms Cheney may no longer have a place in the Grand Old Party, a party many Republicans say they no longer recognise — but that is where it is as of today, in a chokehold at the hands of the former president.

In her desperate attempt to salvage a victory, Ms Cheney had to court the state’s few Democrats to try to win over the Republican Party. That strategy failed and while it is doubtful if in any general election she could win their support, she has at least appeared to earn their respect.

Ms Cheney appears to have already shifted focus from her primary defeat to her political future. Her campaign team filed paperwork switching her campaign committee to a political action committee, an exclusive by Politico reported.

Called The Great Task, it has a reported goal of educating Americans on the 2020 election.

'There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.' Congresswoman and January 6 committee vice chairwoman Liz Cheney to Republican colleagues who have defended Mr Trump's claims of election fraud. AFP

'January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup - a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6 - to overthrow the government.' Committee chairman Bennie Thompson. EPA

Mr Trump 'was willing to sacrifice our republic to prolong his presidency. I can imagine no more dishonourable acts by a president.' Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. AFP

Donald Trump had this 'arsenal of allegations. I went through them piece by piece to say, no, they were not true'. Former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue. EPA

'There were no votes to find.' Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after Donald Trump asked him and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling, to 'find 11,780' votes that could flip Georgia in the president's favour. AFP

Competing against Donald Trump’s lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'. Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State chief operating officer. AFP

'As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.' Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaking about the insurrection. AFP

'I told him [Donald Trump] that the stuff his people were shovelling out to the public was bull***t.' Former attorney general William Barr. AP

'I respect attorney general Barr. So, I accepted what he was saying.' Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser. AP

'We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more.' Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Reuters

A Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It' and shows a military-style rifle flies as rioters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2001. Reuters

A Trump supporter sprays smoke. Reuters

Police attempt to push the mob back. AFP

The pro-Trump mob swarms the Capitol as police release tear gas. Reuters

Protesters clash with police. Reuters

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the US Capitol. Reuters

A police flash-bang blast lights up the Capitol. Reuters

Before the insurrection, Mr Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Reuters

People march with those who say they are members of the Proud Boys as they attend a rally in Washington in support of former president Donald Trump. AP