Kevin McCarthy endorses top Liz Cheney challenger in Wyoming House race
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has officially endorsed attorney Harriet Hageman, the top challenger to incumbent GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, in the race for Wyoming’s one and only House seat, the Federalist reports Thursday.
“After spending time with Harriet, it is readily apparent she will always listen and prioritize the needs of her local communities and is focused on tackling our nation’s biggest problems,” McCarthy told the Federalist. “I look forward to serving with Harriet for years to come.”
In backing Hageman (who also has the support of notable Cheney-hater former President Donald Trump), McCarthy is not only taking his denouncement of the Wyoming lawmaker to the next level, he’s breaking with typical party protocol, CNN notes, given “GOP leaders in the House have long had a posture of neutrality in primaries.”
And some conservatives had been hoping McCarthy would put his political muscle behind defeating Cheney.“That’s the question that everyone should pay attention to: If Kevin McCarthy does go against Liz Cheney,” MTG told me. “That’s the inside baseball people should be watching.” https://t.co/svyJ6LXext
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) February 17, 2022
Cheney has been quite viciously alienated from her party as of late, for both her service on the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and her vocal criticism of Trump. In May, for instance, she was ousted from her House leadership position. And earlier this month, the Republican National Committee voted to formally censure both her and fellow GOP Trump-critic-turned-Jan.6 committee-member Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for their work in investigating the riot.
Liz Cheney spokesman Jeremy Adler on McCarthy’s endorsement — as reported in The Federalist — of Harriet Hageman, the Donald Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to unseat Cheney. “Wow, she must be really desperate,” he says in email. https://t.co/I49G5a9PBj
— Billy House (@HouseInSession) February 17, 2022
With McCarthy’s support of Hageman now out in the open, “other members of the GOP conference” can “openly support Cheney’s primary challenger with the blessing of leadership,” the Federalist writes.
An official statement should come from Team McCarthy around 6 p.m. per Bloomberg News‘ Billy House.
McCarthy campaign-arm aide confirms his endorsement of Hageman over Cheney — says official statement to come out about 6 p.m.
— Billy House (@HouseInSession) February 17, 2022
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has officially endorsed attorney Harriet Hageman, the top challenger to incumbent GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, in the race for Wyoming’s one and only House seat, the Federalist reports Thursday. “After spending time with Harriet, it is readily apparent she will always listen and prioritize the needs of her local…
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has officially endorsed attorney Harriet Hageman, the top challenger to incumbent GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, in the race for Wyoming’s one and only House seat, the Federalist reports Thursday. “After spending time with Harriet, it is readily apparent she will always listen and prioritize the needs of her local…