Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
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Outgoing Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has already fallen about as far as she can in the eyes of most Republicans, but on Thursday she took what is, for her, the historic step of endorsing a Democrat in an upcoming election.
Cheney, who has become best known for being one of two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee, officially backed Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s reelection bid in Michigan.
The Slotkin campaign shared a statement confirming Cheney’s endorsement.
“I’m proud to endorse Elissa Slotkin,” Cheney said. “Serving together on the Armed Services Committee, I have come to know Elissa as a good and honorable public servant who works hard for the people she represents, wants what’s best for the country, and is in this for the right reasons. While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress.”
Slotkin is, by most measures, a centrist in the Democratic Party. Her previous public posts include work for the CIA and Department of Defense, connections that make Cheney’s affinity for her understandable, even though unexpected.
Cheney had never previously endorsed a Democrat in any election.
“At a moment when the very heart of our democracy is being challenged, Rep. Cheney’s voice has been critical,” Slotkin said. “I’m grateful for her support in this race and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to strengthen our national security and America’s role in the world. We all know that our country is going through a difficult moment right now. But throughout our history, two things have helped us weather times like these: engaged citizens and principled leaders, from both sides of the aisle.”
The Slotkin campaign confirms that Cheney will participate in an event titled “Evening for Patriotism and Bipartisanship” in Michigan next week.
Ordinarily, a sitting congresswoman snubbing her own party would be seen as calamitous for the jilted party. However, given Cheney’s immense lack of popularity, there is a chance her endorsement of Slotkin factors little in the upcoming election or even proves counterproductive.
Tom Barrett, Slotkin’s opponent in the general election, almost wore Cheney’s snub as a badge of honor, tweeting four times in three hours that he was neither shocked nor necessarily disappointed in Cheney’s decision.
“My entire adult life has been committed to service in the Army, and I’ve sadly lost too many friends as part of America’s endless wars,” Barrett wrote in his initial response. “Now establishment Warhawks like Liz Cheney and Elissa Slotkin are standing together because I oppose their senseless thirst for more foreign entanglements.”
Now establishment Warhawks like Liz Cheney and Elissa Slotkin are standing together because I oppose their senseless thirst for more foreign entanglements.
— Tom Barrett (@tombarrettmi7) October 27, 2022
In a subsequent tweet, Barrett added, “It’s no surprise the Cheney family is joining her and it exposes the permanent Washington establishment’s War-First, America-Last agenda. Elissa Slotkin can keep Liz Cheney while I work to keep America out of senseless wars.”
Cheney is no longer on the ballot in Wyoming, having lost soundly to Republican challenger Harriet Hageman in the primary.