Former House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney raised plenty of eyebrows last week when the former Wyoming congresswoman, who’s never voted for a Democrat in her life, announced, “Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”
Soon after, Cheney elaborated on her perspective during an interview on ABC News, explaining that a second Trump term would likely result in “unrecoverable catastrophe” for the United States. The former GOP leader went on to describe Trump’s Republican backers — especially those who appear to know better — of betraying both the Constitution and their own principles.
What generated less attention, however, was Cheney’s other endorsement last week. The Texas Tribune reported:
Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, also endorsed Democrat Colin Allred in his race to beat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. … In officially endorsing Allred, Cheney recalled briefly working with the Democrat in Congress. “You might not agree on every policy position, but we need people who are going to serve in good faith,” she said.
At an event in Texas, the former congresswoman added, in reference to Allred, “I’ll be working on his behalf.”
The congressman, facing an uphill fight against a controversial incumbent, welcomed Cheney’s endorsement, calling her a patriot “who continuously puts country over party because she believes in the importance of protecting our democracy.”
I can’t say with confidence what kind of impact this will have on Texas’ Senate race, but there’s an underlying point that’s worth keeping in mind: For those concerned about Trump’s hostility toward democracy and elections, focusing on the presidential race is important, but it’s also incomplete.
The former president’s enablers, many of whom played direct roles in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 race, are equally deserving of electoral accountability.
As a legislative matter, Cheney still deserves to be seen as a far-right figure who voted with the Trump White House roughly 94% of the time — a higher score than some members of the House Freedom Caucus.
But as a principled matter, Trump’s — and Cruz’s — efforts to reject the results of a free and fair American election were a dealbreaker for her.
Twenty years ago, Cheney worked in administration known for its “you’re either with us or you’re against us” posture. In 2024, that attitude has evolved: The former congresswoman, effectively purged from her party, seems to believe that you’re either for democracy or you’re against it.
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