House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) endorsed Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) primary challenger.
McCarthy told The Federalist on Thursday that he supports Harriet Hageman, who is running against Cheney, the former House Republican Conference Chair on the outs with her party for criticizing Trump.
“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,” he told the outlet. “I look forward to serving with Harriet for years to come.”
Cheney was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In May 2021, she was voted out as conference chair due to her repeated criticisms of Trump and replaced with Trump loyalist Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y)
After she was voted out of Republican House leadership, Cheney accepted a position on the select House committee investigating the Capitol riot, joining fellow Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill). Both Cheney and Kinzinger were censured by the RNC for investigating the riot.
McCarthy is the latest Republican to get behind Hageman. Trump and his donors, including Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Theil, already support her.
“Wyoming deserves to be represented by someone who cares about Wyoming, not someone who is consumed by her own personal war with President Trump,” Hageman recently told Fox News. “I have been to all 23 counties in Wyoming, and I know that the people are desperate for a change.”
