Liz Cheney: Difference between revisions

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| name = Liz Cheney
| name = Liz Cheney
| birth_name = Elizabeth Lynne Cheney
| birth_name = Elizabeth Lynne Cheney
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|7|28}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|7|28}}
| birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| birth_place = Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| occupation = Attorney, politician, professor
| occupation = Attorney, politician, professor
| known_for = U.S. Representative for Wyoming (2017–2023); Vice Chair of the [[January 6th Committee]]; opposition to [[Donald Trump]]
| known_for = Vice chair of the [[January 6th Committee|House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack]]; opposition to [[Donald Trump]]
| education = [[Colorado College]] (BA)<br>[[University of Chicago Law School]] (JD)
| education = [[University of Chicago]] (JD)
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| children = 5
| children = 5
| awards = [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] (2025)
| awards = [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] (2025)
| title = Professor of Practice, [[University of Virginia Center for Politics]]
| title = [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[Wyoming's at-large congressional district|Wyoming's At-Large District]]
}}
}}


'''Elizabeth Lynne Cheney''' (born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney and former politician who served as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Wyoming's at-large congressional district]] from 2017 to 2023. The elder daughter of former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and former Second Lady [[Lynne Cheney]], she rose to become the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives as chair of the [[House Republican Conference]] from 2019 to 2021. A lifelong Republican who held posts in the [[U.S. State Department]] during the [[George W. Bush administration]], Cheney's political trajectory shifted dramatically after the [[2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol]]. Her vote in favor of [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's second impeachment]] and subsequent service as vice chair of the [[United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack|House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack]] placed her in direct opposition to the prevailing direction of her own party, leading to her removal from Republican leadership, censure by the [[Republican National Committee]], and a decisive primary defeat in 2022. In the years following her departure from Congress, Cheney endorsed Democratic presidential nominee [[Kamala Harris]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], received the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]] from President [[Joe Biden]], and took a position as a professor of practice at the [[University of Virginia Center for Politics]]. Her career arc—from Republican establishment scion to one of Trump's most prominent intraparty critics—has made her one of the most discussed figures in early 21st-century American politics.
'''Elizabeth Lynne Cheney''' (born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney, former politician, and professor who served as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for [[Wyoming's at-large congressional district]] from 2017 to 2023. The elder daughter of former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and former Second Lady [[Lynne Cheney]], she rose through the ranks of Republican leadership to become chair of the [[House Republican Conference]] from 2019 to 2021, making her the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House. A career shaped first by hawkish foreign policy work in the [[U.S. Department of State|State Department]] and then by legislative politics, Cheney's trajectory took a dramatic turn following the [[2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol]]. Her vote to impeach Donald Trump and her subsequent role as vice chair of the [[United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack|House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack]] placed her in direct confrontation with the leadership of her own party, leading to her removal from Republican leadership and ultimately a landslide primary defeat in 2022. Since leaving Congress, Cheney has continued to advocate for constitutional governance, endorsed Democratic presidential nominee [[Kamala Harris]] in the 2024 election, and joined the [[University of Virginia Center for Politics]] as a professor of practice.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Elizabeth Lynne Cheney was born on July 28, 1966, in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CHENEY, Liz |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She is the elder of two daughters born to [[Dick Cheney]], who would go on to serve as [[White House Chief of Staff]], U.S. Representative from Wyoming, [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], and ultimately the 46th [[Vice President of the United States]], and [[Lynne Cheney]], an author, scholar, and former chair of the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]]. Her younger sister is [[Mary Cheney]], a political activist and businesswoman.
Elizabeth Lynne Cheney was born on July 28, 1966, in Madison, Wisconsin.<ref name="bioguide">{{cite web |title=CHENEY, Liz |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She is the elder of two daughters born to [[Dick Cheney]], who would go on to serve as U.S. Secretary of Defense and the 46th Vice President of the United States, and [[Lynne Cheney]], who served as chair of the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]] and as Second Lady. Her younger sister is [[Mary Cheney]], an LGBT rights activist and political consultant.


The Cheney family had deep roots in Wyoming politics, and Liz Cheney grew up in an environment steeped in public service and conservative policy debate. Her father represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 1979 to 1989 before joining the administration of President [[George H. W. Bush]] as Secretary of Defense.<ref>{{cite news |date=2000-10-01 |title=2000 Campaign: The Republican Running Mate; For Cheney Family, Motto: All for One |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/us/2000-campaign-republican-running-mate-for-cheney-family-motto-all-for-one.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The family's connection to Wyoming and to Republican politics at the national level would shape Liz Cheney's own career trajectory in substantial ways, providing both a political network and a set of policy convictions—particularly in the areas of national security and foreign policy—that defined her public life.
Cheney grew up in a politically prominent household. Her father represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989, and the family maintained deep ties to the state. A 2000 profile in ''The New York Times'' described the close-knit nature of the Cheney family and its collective involvement in political life.<ref>{{cite news |date=2000-10-01 |title=2000 Campaign: The Republican Running Mate; For Cheney Family, Motto Is All for One |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/us/2000-campaign-republican-running-mate-for-cheney-family-motto-all-for-one.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Growing up, Cheney spent time in both Wyoming and the Washington, D.C., area, reflecting her father's career in federal government. The family maintained a residence in Wyoming, and Cheney would later establish her own residency there as the foundation for her political campaigns.
Cheney's upbringing was steeped in conservative politics and public service. Her father's career in the executive branch—first as White House Chief of Staff under President [[Gerald Ford]], then as a congressman, and later as Secretary of Defense under President [[George H. W. Bush]]—provided her with an early and extensive exposure to the workings of the federal government. The influence of her father's political career and ideology would shape Cheney's own trajectory in both foreign policy and elected office. Following her father's death in November 2025, Cheney eulogized him publicly, emphasizing that he had chosen to defend the Constitution over political partisanship.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-20 |title=Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Education ==
== Education ==


Cheney attended [[Colorado College]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], where she earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHENEY, Liz |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She subsequently enrolled at the [[University of Chicago Law School]], one of the country's most competitive law programs, where she obtained her [[Juris Doctor]] degree. Her legal education provided the foundation for her subsequent career in government service, particularly in the [[U.S. Department of State]], where legal and policy analysis were central to her responsibilities. The combination of her undergraduate liberal arts education and her rigorous legal training at Chicago equipped Cheney for roles that spanned both policy development and political leadership.
Cheney attended [[Colorado College]] in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree. She subsequently enrolled at the [[University of Chicago Law School]], where she obtained her [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref name="bioguide" /> Her legal education at the University of Chicago, an institution known for its influence on conservative legal thought, provided her with the credentials that would undergird her subsequent career in law and government.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== State Department Service ===
=== State Department and Foreign Policy Work ===


Cheney began her career in government during the administration of President [[George W. Bush]], holding several positions within the [[U.S. Department of State]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2002-03-02 |title=State Department Post for Cheney Daughter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/world/state-department-post-for-cheney-daughter.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her work at the State Department focused significantly on Middle Eastern affairs and democracy promotion, areas that aligned with the administration's broader foreign policy agenda in the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]].
Cheney began her career in government service during the administration of President [[George W. Bush]]. In 2002, she was appointed to a position at the [[U.S. Department of State]], as reported by ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{cite news |date=2002-03-02 |title=State Department Post for Cheney Daughter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/world/state-department-post-for-cheney-daughter.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> During her tenure at the State Department, Cheney held several positions focused on Middle Eastern affairs and democracy promotion.


One of Cheney's notable roles was as chair of the Iran Syria Policy and Operations Group, a position she held alongside [[Elliott Abrams]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-05-26 |title=US unit created to pressure Iran, Syria disbanded |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/05/26/us_unit_created_to_pressure_iran_syria_disbanded/?page=full |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In this capacity, she promoted regime change in Iran as a policy objective, consistent with the neoconservative foreign policy framework that characterized much of the Bush administration's approach to the Middle East. The group focused on coordinating U.S. policy regarding Iran and Syria, two countries the administration viewed as significant threats to American interests and regional stability. The unit was eventually disbanded.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-05-26 |title=US unit created to pressure Iran, Syria disbanded |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/05/26/us_unit_created_to_pressure_iran_syria_disbanded/?page=full |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
A significant element of Cheney's State Department work involved her role as chair of the Iran Syria Policy and Operations Group, which she co-led with [[Elliott Abrams]]. The group was established to coordinate U.S. policy toward Iran and Syria, with an emphasis on promoting regime change in Iran. The group's activities drew scrutiny, and it was eventually disbanded. ''The Boston Globe'' reported in 2007 on the creation and dissolution of the unit, noting its role in pressuring Iran and Syria.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-05-26 |title=US unit created to pressure Iran, Syria disbanded |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/05/26/us_unit_created_to_pressure_iran_syria_disbanded/?page=full |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Cheney also served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for [[Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs|Near Eastern Affairs]] at the State Department.<ref>{{cite news |date=2006-04-15 |title=Cheney Daughter at State Dept. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/washington/15diplo.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her tenure at the department was shaped by the post-9/11 policy environment and the administration's emphasis on promoting democratic governance in the broader Middle East, a project that remained controversial among foreign policy analysts and commentators.
Cheney's foreign policy views during this period aligned with the neoconservative orientation of the Bush administration. A 2005 assessment in ''The New York Times'' discussed the broader State Department dynamics in which Cheney operated.<ref>{{cite news |date=2005-03-01 |title=Political assessment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01assess.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her work at the State Department also intersected with broader diplomatic shifts, as reported by ''The New York Times'' in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |date=2006-04-15 |title=Washington diplomatic changes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/washington/15diplo.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Keep America Safe and Media Career ===
Cheney was also active as an endorser and surrogate in Republican presidential politics. She endorsed [[Mitt Romney]]'s presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web |title=Endorsement: Cheney |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cheney |publisher=MittRomney.com |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


After leaving government service at the conclusion of the Bush administration, Cheney co-founded [[Keep America Safe]], a [[nonprofit organization]] focused on national security issues, in 2009 alongside [[Bill Kristol]], the prominent neoconservative commentator and editor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Liz Cheney, Keep America Safe |url=http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/07/17/2317311/liz-cheney-keep-america-safe/ |publisher=ThinkProgress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The organization advocated for positions consistent with those of the Bush–Cheney administration, particularly on issues related to counterterrorism, interrogation policy, and the prosecution of the [[War on Terror]]. Keep America Safe served as a vehicle for Cheney to maintain a public voice on national security policy during the [[Barack Obama|Obama administration]], frequently criticizing the president's approach to foreign affairs and defense.
=== Keep America Safe ===


During this period, Cheney also served as a contributor to [[Fox News]], providing commentary on national security and foreign policy issues.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome! Liz Cheney Joins Fox News as Contributor |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/liz-cheney/2012/01/06/welcome-liz-cheney-joins-fox-news-contributor |publisher=Fox News |date=2012-01-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her role as a paid Fox News contributor ended when she began exploring a run for political office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox News Terminates Liz Cheney As Paid Contributor in Light of Senate Run |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-terminates-liz-cheney-as-paid-contributor-in-light-of-senate-run/ |publisher=Mediaite |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2009, after the end of the Bush administration, Cheney co-founded [[Keep America Safe]], a nonprofit organization, with conservative commentator [[Bill Kristol]]. The organization was focused on national security issues and broadly supported the foreign policy positions of the Bush–Cheney administration. Keep America Safe advocated for a robust military posture, aggressive counterterrorism policies, and criticized the national security approach of the [[Barack Obama|Obama administration]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Liz Cheney: Keep America Safe |url=http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/07/17/2317311/liz-cheney-keep-america-safe/ |publisher=ThinkProgress |date=2013-07-17 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
=== Media Career ===
 
In January 2012, Cheney joined [[Fox News]] as a paid contributor, providing commentary on national security and foreign policy matters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome: Liz Cheney Joins Fox News as Contributor |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/liz-cheney/2012/01/06/welcome-liz-cheney-joins-fox-news-contributor |publisher=Fox News |date=2012-01-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Fox News terminated her paid contributor contract after she announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Wyoming.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox News Terminates Liz Cheney as Paid Contributor in Light of Senate Run |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-terminates-liz-cheney-as-paid-contributor-in-light-of-senate-run/ |publisher=Mediaite |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== 2014 Senate Campaign ===
=== 2014 Senate Campaign ===


In 2013, Cheney announced her candidacy for the [[United States Senate]] in Wyoming, challenging three-term Republican incumbent [[Mike Enzi]] in the 2014 Republican primary.<ref name="wyoming-strategy">{{cite news |date=2013-08-04 |title=Liz Cheney's Wyoming Strategy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/liz-cheneys-wyoming-strategy/2013/08/04/48939ace-fbb7-11e2-9bde-7ddaa186b751_story.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The campaign generated significant national media attention, both because of Cheney's family name and because of the unusual nature of a primary challenge against a sitting Republican senator in a deeply conservative state.
In 2013, Cheney announced her candidacy for the [[United States Senate]] in Wyoming, challenging incumbent Republican Senator [[Mike Enzi]]. The campaign generated significant attention due to the Cheney family's prominence and the rarity of a primary challenge to a sitting Republican senator. ''The Washington Post'' reported on Cheney's strategy for establishing herself as a Wyoming candidate, noting that she had spent much of her adult life outside the state.<ref>{{cite news |date=2013-08-04 |title=Liz Cheney's Wyoming strategy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/liz-cheneys-wyoming-strategy/2013/08/04/48939ace-fbb7-11e2-9bde-7ddaa186b751_story.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The campaign proved contentious and short-lived. Cheney faced questions about her ties to Wyoming, given the years she had spent living and working in the Washington, D.C., area and in Virginia.<ref name="wyoming-strategy" /> The race also became entangled in a public family dispute over same-sex marriage after Cheney publicly stated her opposition to it, drawing a public rebuke from her sister Mary Cheney, who is gay and married to her partner. The episode attracted widespread media coverage and highlighted tensions within the Cheney family.
The Senate campaign also brought the Cheney family's internal divisions into public view, particularly regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. Her sister Mary Cheney, who is gay and was in a same-sex relationship, publicly criticized Liz Cheney's stated opposition to same-sex marriage during the campaign. The family disagreement played out in the media and became a subplot of the campaign.


Cheney withdrew from the Senate race in January 2014, citing family health issues. The withdrawal ended what had been an increasingly difficult campaign, but it did not mark the end of her political ambitions in Wyoming.
Cheney withdrew from the Senate race in January 2014, citing family health issues. Enzi went on to win re-election.


=== Election to the House of Representatives ===
=== Election to the House of Representatives ===


Following the announcement by Representative [[Cynthia Lummis]] that she would not seek reelection in 2016, Cheney entered the Republican primary for Wyoming's at-large congressional district—the same seat her father had held from 1979 to 1989. She won the Republican primary and subsequently won the general election.<ref>{{cite web |title=Liz Cheney Wins Wyoming House Seat |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/liz-cheney-wins-wyoming-house-seat |publisher=Roll Call |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Cheney took office on January 3, 2017, beginning her service in the [[115th United States Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Member, Liz Cheney |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/liz-cheney/C001109 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2016, following the retirement of Representative [[Cynthia Lummis]], Cheney entered the race for Wyoming's at-large congressional district—the same seat her father had held from 1979 to 1989. She won the Republican primary, leading in the polls throughout the contest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liz Cheney leading in GOP primary for U.S. House |url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/liz-cheney-leading-in-gop-primary-for-u-s-house/article_893cc8bd-364b-508b-8852-956c06f43425.html |work=Casper Star-Tribune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She won the general election in November 2016, securing Wyoming's sole House seat.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liz Cheney Wins Wyoming House Seat |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/liz-cheney-wins-wyoming-house-seat |work=Roll Call |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
=== House Republican Leadership ===


In Congress, Cheney established herself as a conservative legislator with hawkish foreign policy views and pro-business economic positions, consistent with the neoconservative and Republican establishment traditions in which she had been raised and educated. She was reelected in 2018 and, in January 2019, was elected chair of the [[House Republican Conference]], the third-highest leadership position among House Republicans, succeeding [[Cathy McMorris Rodgers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CHENEY, Liz |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In this role, she served under [[Minority Leader]] [[Kevin McCarthy]], with [[Mark Walker (North Carolina politician)|Mark Walker]] and later [[Mike Johnson (Louisiana politician)|Mike Johnson]] as deputies.
Upon taking office in January 2017, Cheney quickly established herself within the Republican conference. She was elected chair of the [[House Republican Conference]] in January 2019, succeeding [[Cathy McMorris Rodgers]] and becoming the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.<ref name="congress">{{cite web |title=Member profile: Liz Cheney |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/liz-cheney/C001109 |publisher=Congress.gov |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In this role, she was responsible for messaging and communications strategy for House Republicans, serving under Minority Leader [[Kevin McCarthy]].


During the first [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], Cheney's relationship with the president and his supporters was complex. She was critical of certain aspects of Trump's foreign policy, particularly where she perceived departures from the interventionist approach she favored. At the same time, she voted consistently in favor of Trump's legislative agenda on most domestic policy matters, reflecting the overlap between her own conservatism and the administration's positions on taxes, regulation, and other economic issues.
Cheney's policy positions during her time in Congress were characterized by pro-business stances and hawkish foreign policy views consistent with the neoconservative tradition associated with her father's political legacy. She was critical of certain aspects of the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly regarding relationships with authoritarian regimes and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from certain regions. However, she also consistently voted in favor of the Trump administration's overall legislative agenda, including tax cuts and deregulation.


=== January 6 and Break with Trump ===
Cheney was also involved in environmental and land-use policy debates significant to Wyoming. She was among Republican lawmakers who sought to modify the [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-01 |title=Republican-controlled government sees chance to weaken Endangered Species Act |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/01/republican-controlled-government-sees-chance-to-weaken-endangered-species-act/ |work=Ars Technica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The [[2021 United States Capitol attack|attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021]], proved to be the defining event of Cheney's congressional career. In the days following the assault by supporters of President Trump seeking to prevent the certification of [[Joe Biden]]'s presidential election victory, Cheney became one of the most vocal Republican critics of Trump's role in inciting the violence.
=== January 6 and Impeachment of Donald Trump ===


On January 13, 2021, Cheney was one of ten House Republicans who voted in favor of [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's second impeachment]], charging him with "incitement of insurrection."<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her vote and continued public criticism of Trump placed her on a collision course with the Republican conference she had been elected to lead.
The [[2021 United States Capitol attack|January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol]] proved to be the defining inflection point of Cheney's political career. In the days following the attack, Cheney became one of the most prominent Republican voices calling for accountability. She was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump for "incitement of insurrection" on January 13, 2021, during his [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|second impeachment]].


On May 12, 2021, House Republicans voted to remove Cheney from her position as chair of the House Republican Conference. She was replaced by [[Elise Stefanik]] of New York, a Trump ally.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The ouster reflected the degree to which the Republican Party had consolidated around Trump in the aftermath of January 6 and the extent to which Cheney's anti-Trump stance had isolated her within her own caucus.
Cheney's impeachment vote and her continued public criticism of Trump placed her in direct conflict with the majority of the House Republican Conference. On May 12, 2021, House Republicans voted to remove her from her position as chair of the House Republican Conference. She was replaced by [[Elise Stefanik]] of New York. The removal was widely seen as a reflection of the Republican Party's realignment around loyalty to Trump.


=== January 6 Committee ===
=== January 6 Committee ===


In July 2021, [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] appointed Cheney to the [[United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack|House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack]], one of only two Republicans to serve on the panel (the other being [[Adam Kinzinger]] of Illinois). On September 2, 2021, Cheney was named vice chair of the committee, making her the highest-ranking Republican on the investigative body.<ref>{{cite web |title=CHENEY, Liz |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109 |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In July 2021, House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] appointed Cheney to the [[United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack]]. In September 2021, she was elevated to vice chair of the committee, a role she held until the committee concluded its work in January 2023.
 
As vice chair, Cheney played a central role in the committee's public hearings, often delivering opening and closing statements that framed the investigation's findings. The committee investigated the events leading up to and during the January 6 attack, including the actions of President Trump and his associates in the period between the November 2020 election and the Capitol breach.


As vice chair, Cheney played a prominent role in the committee's public hearings, which were broadcast widely and drew significant national attention throughout 2022. She used her position to present the committee's findings regarding Trump's actions before, during, and after the Capitol attack, and she became closely identified with the committee's work in the public eye.
Cheney's role on the January 6 Committee had significant consequences within the Republican Party. In November 2021, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to revoke Cheney's membership. In February 2022, the [[Republican National Committee]] formally censured Cheney and fellow committee member [[Adam Kinzinger]], characterizing the January 6 investigation as a persecution of "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."


Her role on the committee had direct political consequences. In November 2021, the [[Wyoming Republican Party]] voted to revoke Cheney's membership in the state party. In February 2022, the [[Republican National Committee]] formally censured Cheney and Kinzinger for their participation in the committee, characterizing the investigation as a "persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
CNN reported on how the relationship between Liz Cheney and her father Dick Cheney informed her decision to confront Trump. One year after the Capitol attack, the former vice president accompanied his daughter to the House floor on January 6, 2022, in a gesture that underscored the family's shared commitment to constitutional principles.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title='Country over party': How Dick Cheney helped Liz Cheney stand up to Donald Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/liz-cheney-trump-dick-cheney |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== 2022 Primary Defeat ===
=== 2022 Primary Defeat ===


In the 2022 Republican primary for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, Cheney faced [[Harriet Hageman]], an attorney endorsed by Donald Trump. The race attracted national attention as a proxy battle over the direction of the Republican Party and the question of loyalty to Trump. Cheney lost decisively, receiving just 28.9% of the vote in a result that was characterized as a landslide defeat.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The result underscored the extent to which opposition to Trump had become untenable for Republican elected officials in deeply conservative states.
Cheney sought re-election in 2022 but faced a formidable challenge in the Republican primary from [[Harriet Hageman]], a Cheyenne attorney who received the endorsement of Donald Trump. The primary became one of the most closely watched races in the 2022 midterm cycle, widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's influence within the Republican Party and on Cheney's decision to break with him.


Hageman went on to win the general election and succeeded Cheney in Congress.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-23 |title=Rep. Harriet Hageman, who defeated Liz Cheney, announces run for Wyoming Senate seat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/politics/harriet-hageman-wyoming-senate |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In December 2025, Hageman announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by [[Cynthia Lummis]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-23 |title=Rep. Harriet Hageman, who defeated Liz Cheney, announces run for Wyoming Senate seat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/politics/harriet-hageman-wyoming-senate |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost the primary to Hageman in a landslide, receiving just 28.9% of the vote. In her concession speech, Cheney invoked [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s loss of a Senate race in 1858 and stated her intention to continue working to prevent Trump from returning to the presidency.
 
Hageman subsequently won the general election and succeeded Cheney in the House. In December 2025, Hageman announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by [[Cynthia Lummis]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-12-23 |title=Rep. Harriet Hageman, who defeated Liz Cheney, announces run for Wyoming Senate seat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/politics/harriet-hageman-wyoming-senate |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Post-Congressional Career ===
=== Post-Congressional Career ===


After leaving Congress in January 2023, Cheney continued to be active in public life. She took a position as a professor of practice at the [[University of Virginia Center for Politics]], where she has been based since March 2023.
After leaving Congress in January 2023, Cheney joined the [[University of Virginia Center for Politics]] as a professor of practice, teaching courses related to constitutional governance and democratic institutions.


Cheney has maintained a prominent public speaking schedule, appearing at universities and public forums to discuss issues related to democracy, constitutional governance, and the January 6 investigation. In September 2025, she spoke at [[Northwestern University]]'s Pritzker School about defending democracy and the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-09-06 |title=Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney talks defending democracy, Trump GOP at Pritzker |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/09/06/campus/former-u-s-rep-liz-cheney-talks-defending-democracy-trump-gop-at-pritzker/ |work=The Daily Northwestern |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In January 2026, she addressed a crowd in [[Sonoma, California]], urging attendees to get involved in midterm election efforts.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01-14 |title=Liz Cheney urges Sonoma crowd to get involved in midterm elections |url=https://www.sonomanews.com/2026/01/14/cheney-urges-sonoma-crowd-to-get-involved-in-midterm-elections/ |work=Sonoma Index-Tribune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Cheney published a memoir recounting her experiences during the January 6 investigation and the broader struggle within the Republican Party. She also embarked on a national speaking tour, appearing at universities and public forums to discuss threats to democratic governance.


In May 2025, Cheney gave a talk in [[Anchorage, Alaska]], at the [[Alaska Center for the Performing Arts]], where she discussed her political future and appeared to signal interest in a potential political run in Alaska.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-05-06 |title=Liz Cheney teases Alaska run at Anchorage talk |url=https://www.thenorthernlight.org/stories/liz-cheney-teases-alaska-run-at-anchorage-talk |work=UAA Northern Light |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2024, Cheney made the notable decision to endorse [[Kamala Harris]], the Democratic presidential nominee, in the presidential election, placing opposition to Trump above partisan loyalty. She actively campaigned for Harris, appearing at events across the country. Harris was ultimately unsuccessful in the general election.


During the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], Cheney took the extraordinary step—for a lifelong Republican—of endorsing [[Kamala Harris]], the Democratic nominee, and campaigning on her behalf. The endorsement reflected Cheney's stated belief that preventing Trump's return to the presidency took precedence over partisan loyalty. Harris's bid was ultimately unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2025, Cheney continued to make public appearances. In September, she spoke at the Pritzker School, where she discussed defending democracy and the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-09-06 |title=Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney talks defending democracy, Trump GOP at Pritzker |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/09/06/campus/former-u-s-rep-liz-cheney-talks-defending-democracy-trump-gop-at-pritzker/ |work=The Daily Northwestern |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In January 2026, she addressed an audience in Sonoma, California, urging attendees to get involved in the midterm election process.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01-14 |title=Liz Cheney urges Sonoma crowd to get involved in midterm elections |url=https://www.sonomanews.com/2026/01/14/cheney-urges-sonoma-crowd-to-get-involved-in-midterm-elections/ |work=Sonoma Index-Tribune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
In May 2025, Cheney gave a talk in Anchorage, Alaska, where she appeared to tease the possibility of a future political run.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-05-06 |title=Liz Cheney teases Alaska run at Anchorage talk |url=https://www.thenorthernlight.org/stories/liz-cheney-teases-alaska-run-at-anchorage-talk |work=UAA Northern Light |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Liz Cheney is the elder daughter of former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and [[Lynne Cheney]]. Her younger sister, [[Mary Cheney]], is a political consultant and LGBT rights advocate. Liz Cheney has five children.
Cheney is married to Philip Perry, an attorney who served as General Counsel of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] during the George W. Bush administration. The couple have five children.<ref name="bioguide" />


Cheney's father, Dick Cheney, died in 2025. Liz Cheney delivered a eulogy at his funeral, recounting his final words and emphasizing his commitment to defending the Constitution over political partisanship.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-20 |title=Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The funeral service was held with former President [[George W. Bush]] also delivering a tribute.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-13 |title=George W. Bush, Liz Cheney to deliver tributes at Dick Cheney's funeral service |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/dick-cheney-funeral-bush-00650606 |work=Politico |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Cheney's younger sister, [[Mary Cheney]], is openly gay and has been active in LGBT advocacy. The sisters' differing public positions on same-sex marriage became a source of public family tension during Liz Cheney's 2014 Senate campaign.


Dick Cheney had been a supporter of his daughter's stand against Trump. In January 2022, one year after the Capitol attack, the former vice president accompanied Liz Cheney to the House floor in a gesture of solidarity, drawing attention as one of the few prominent former Republican officials to publicly back her position.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title='Country over party': How Dick Cheney helped Liz Cheney stand up to Donald Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/liz-cheney-trump-dick-cheney |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In November 2025, Cheney's father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, died. A funeral service was held at which both former President [[George W. Bush]] and Liz Cheney delivered tributes.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-13 |title=George W. Bush, Liz Cheney to deliver tributes at Dick Cheney's funeral service |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/dick-cheney-funeral-bush-00650606 |work=Politico |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In her eulogy, Cheney recounted her father's final words and emphasized his dedication to the Constitution over partisan considerations.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-20 |title=Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


In January 2025, President [[Joe Biden]] awarded Cheney the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]], one of the highest civilian honors bestowed by the President of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Biden also granted Cheney a pardon from potential future prosecution, a step widely interpreted as an acknowledgment that her work on the January 6 committee and her opposition to Trump could expose her to political retaliation from a returning Trump administration.
In January 2025, President [[Joe Biden]] awarded Cheney the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]], the second-highest civilian honor in the United States, in recognition of her work on the January 6 Committee and her defense of constitutional principles. Biden also issued Cheney a pardon from potential future prosecution, a preemptive measure that reflected concerns about possible retribution from the incoming Trump administration.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Cheney's role on the January 6 committee brought her significant national attention, and her public hearings were among the most-watched congressional proceedings in recent decades. Her willingness to break with her party's leadership made her a prominent figure in media coverage of the post-January 6 political landscape.
Cheney's work on the January 6 Committee drew attention from legal scholars, historians, and the media. Her willingness to break with her party over the events of January 6 was noted as one of the most significant acts of intraparty dissent in modern American political history.
 
Her speaking engagements at major universities—including [[Northwestern University]] and the [[University of Virginia]]—and public forums across the country have continued to draw substantial audiences, reflecting ongoing public interest in her perspective on democratic governance and the state of the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-09-06 |title=Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney talks defending democracy, Trump GOP at Pritzker |url=https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/09/06/campus/former-u-s-rep-liz-cheney-talks-defending-democracy-trump-gop-at-pritzker/ |work=The Daily Northwestern |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Liz Cheney's political career is defined by two distinct phases: her ascent within the Republican establishment as a national security hawk and daughter of a former vice president, and her rupture with the party over the question of Donald Trump's fitness for office following the January 6 Capitol attack. As ''The Guardian'' observed in November 2025, Republicans ousted her after she pursued accountability for January 6, yet the Cheney family's influence continued to linger in certain aspects of Republican governance and foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-04 |title=Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Cheney's political career encapsulates a broader tension within the Republican Party between its traditional establishment wing—characterized by hawkish foreign policy, fiscal conservatism, and institutional norms—and the populist movement that coalesced around Donald Trump. As the daughter of one of the most influential vice presidents in American history, Cheney initially seemed positioned to carry forward the Bush–Cheney legacy within the party. Her rapid rise to the third-ranking position in House Republican leadership by 2019 reflected the strength of that institutional base.


Her service as vice chair of the January 6 committee represented one of the most consequential acts of intraparty dissent in modern American political history. The committee's hearings, in which Cheney played a leading role, produced a detailed public record of the events surrounding the Capitol attack and the efforts to overturn the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election results]].
However, Cheney's break with Trump over January 6 represented a rupture that proved irreconcilable with the direction of the Republican Party's base. Her removal from leadership, the revocation of her Wyoming Republican Party membership, her censure by the RNC, and her landslide primary defeat together illustrated the extent to which the party had reoriented around loyalty to Trump.


Cheney's trajectory also illustrated the broader transformation of the Republican Party during the Trump era. Her removal from leadership, censure by the RNC, expulsion from the Wyoming Republican Party, and primary defeat collectively demonstrated the political cost of opposing Trump within the party. At the same time, her endorsement of a Democratic presidential candidate—a step that would have been unthinkable for a Cheney even a few years earlier—reflected the depth of the realignment she believed was necessary to defend constitutional principles.
''The Guardian'' assessed that while Trump ended Cheney's career as an elected Republican, the Cheney family's influence continued to linger within certain elements of Republican foreign policy and governance.<ref name="guardian" /> Cheney herself has stated her intention to remain engaged in public life, whether through political campaigns, educational work, or advocacy for constitutional governance. Her post-congressional career as a professor and public speaker has kept her visible in national discourse about the state of American democracy.
 
Her father's support of her position added a multigenerational dimension to the story. Dick Cheney, who had been among the most powerful figures in Republican politics for decades, publicly stood with his daughter against the direction of the party he had helped shape, a decision Liz Cheney commemorated in her eulogy at his funeral in November 2025.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-11-20 |title=Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc |work=CNN |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Whether Cheney will return to elected office remains an open question. Her 2025 appearance in Alaska, where she appeared to signal interest in a potential political run, suggested that her political career may not be over.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-05-06 |title=Liz Cheney teases Alaska run at Anchorage talk |url=https://www.thenorthernlight.org/stories/liz-cheney-teases-alaska-run-at-anchorage-talk |work=UAA Northern Light |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:American people]]
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[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Wyoming]]
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[[Category:Wyoming Republicans]]
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Latest revision as of 02:05, 24 February 2026

Liz Cheney
BornElizabeth Lynne Cheney
28 7, 1966
BirthplaceMadison, Wisconsin, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAttorney, politician, professor
TitleU.S. Representative from Wyoming's At-Large District
Known forVice chair of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack; opposition to Donald Trump
EducationUniversity of Chicago (JD)
Children5
AwardsPresidential Citizens Medal (2025)

Elizabeth Lynne Cheney (born July 28, 1966) is an American attorney, former politician, and professor who served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. The elder daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Second Lady Lynne Cheney, she rose through the ranks of Republican leadership to become chair of the House Republican Conference from 2019 to 2021, making her the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House. A career shaped first by hawkish foreign policy work in the State Department and then by legislative politics, Cheney's trajectory took a dramatic turn following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Her vote to impeach Donald Trump and her subsequent role as vice chair of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack placed her in direct confrontation with the leadership of her own party, leading to her removal from Republican leadership and ultimately a landslide primary defeat in 2022. Since leaving Congress, Cheney has continued to advocate for constitutional governance, endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, and joined the University of Virginia Center for Politics as a professor of practice.[1]

Early Life

Elizabeth Lynne Cheney was born on July 28, 1966, in Madison, Wisconsin.[2] She is the elder of two daughters born to Dick Cheney, who would go on to serve as U.S. Secretary of Defense and the 46th Vice President of the United States, and Lynne Cheney, who served as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and as Second Lady. Her younger sister is Mary Cheney, an LGBT rights activist and political consultant.

Cheney grew up in a politically prominent household. Her father represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1989, and the family maintained deep ties to the state. A 2000 profile in The New York Times described the close-knit nature of the Cheney family and its collective involvement in political life.[3]

Cheney's upbringing was steeped in conservative politics and public service. Her father's career in the executive branch—first as White House Chief of Staff under President Gerald Ford, then as a congressman, and later as Secretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush—provided her with an early and extensive exposure to the workings of the federal government. The influence of her father's political career and ideology would shape Cheney's own trajectory in both foreign policy and elected office. Following her father's death in November 2025, Cheney eulogized him publicly, emphasizing that he had chosen to defend the Constitution over political partisanship.[4]

Education

Cheney attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently enrolled at the University of Chicago Law School, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree.[2] Her legal education at the University of Chicago, an institution known for its influence on conservative legal thought, provided her with the credentials that would undergird her subsequent career in law and government.

Career

State Department and Foreign Policy Work

Cheney began her career in government service during the administration of President George W. Bush. In 2002, she was appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of State, as reported by The New York Times.[5] During her tenure at the State Department, Cheney held several positions focused on Middle Eastern affairs and democracy promotion.

A significant element of Cheney's State Department work involved her role as chair of the Iran Syria Policy and Operations Group, which she co-led with Elliott Abrams. The group was established to coordinate U.S. policy toward Iran and Syria, with an emphasis on promoting regime change in Iran. The group's activities drew scrutiny, and it was eventually disbanded. The Boston Globe reported in 2007 on the creation and dissolution of the unit, noting its role in pressuring Iran and Syria.[6]

Cheney's foreign policy views during this period aligned with the neoconservative orientation of the Bush administration. A 2005 assessment in The New York Times discussed the broader State Department dynamics in which Cheney operated.[7] Her work at the State Department also intersected with broader diplomatic shifts, as reported by The New York Times in 2006.[8]

Cheney was also active as an endorser and surrogate in Republican presidential politics. She endorsed Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.[9]

Keep America Safe

In 2009, after the end of the Bush administration, Cheney co-founded Keep America Safe, a nonprofit organization, with conservative commentator Bill Kristol. The organization was focused on national security issues and broadly supported the foreign policy positions of the Bush–Cheney administration. Keep America Safe advocated for a robust military posture, aggressive counterterrorism policies, and criticized the national security approach of the Obama administration.[10]

Media Career

In January 2012, Cheney joined Fox News as a paid contributor, providing commentary on national security and foreign policy matters.[11] Fox News terminated her paid contributor contract after she announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Wyoming.[12]

2014 Senate Campaign

In 2013, Cheney announced her candidacy for the United States Senate in Wyoming, challenging incumbent Republican Senator Mike Enzi. The campaign generated significant attention due to the Cheney family's prominence and the rarity of a primary challenge to a sitting Republican senator. The Washington Post reported on Cheney's strategy for establishing herself as a Wyoming candidate, noting that she had spent much of her adult life outside the state.[13]

The Senate campaign also brought the Cheney family's internal divisions into public view, particularly regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. Her sister Mary Cheney, who is gay and was in a same-sex relationship, publicly criticized Liz Cheney's stated opposition to same-sex marriage during the campaign. The family disagreement played out in the media and became a subplot of the campaign.

Cheney withdrew from the Senate race in January 2014, citing family health issues. Enzi went on to win re-election.

Election to the House of Representatives

In 2016, following the retirement of Representative Cynthia Lummis, Cheney entered the race for Wyoming's at-large congressional district—the same seat her father had held from 1979 to 1989. She won the Republican primary, leading in the polls throughout the contest.[14] She won the general election in November 2016, securing Wyoming's sole House seat.[15]

House Republican Leadership

Upon taking office in January 2017, Cheney quickly established herself within the Republican conference. She was elected chair of the House Republican Conference in January 2019, succeeding Cathy McMorris Rodgers and becoming the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.[16] In this role, she was responsible for messaging and communications strategy for House Republicans, serving under Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Cheney's policy positions during her time in Congress were characterized by pro-business stances and hawkish foreign policy views consistent with the neoconservative tradition associated with her father's political legacy. She was critical of certain aspects of the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly regarding relationships with authoritarian regimes and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from certain regions. However, she also consistently voted in favor of the Trump administration's overall legislative agenda, including tax cuts and deregulation.

Cheney was also involved in environmental and land-use policy debates significant to Wyoming. She was among Republican lawmakers who sought to modify the Endangered Species Act.[17]

January 6 and Impeachment of Donald Trump

The January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol proved to be the defining inflection point of Cheney's political career. In the days following the attack, Cheney became one of the most prominent Republican voices calling for accountability. She was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump for "incitement of insurrection" on January 13, 2021, during his second impeachment.

Cheney's impeachment vote and her continued public criticism of Trump placed her in direct conflict with the majority of the House Republican Conference. On May 12, 2021, House Republicans voted to remove her from her position as chair of the House Republican Conference. She was replaced by Elise Stefanik of New York. The removal was widely seen as a reflection of the Republican Party's realignment around loyalty to Trump.

January 6 Committee

In July 2021, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Cheney to the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. In September 2021, she was elevated to vice chair of the committee, a role she held until the committee concluded its work in January 2023.

As vice chair, Cheney played a central role in the committee's public hearings, often delivering opening and closing statements that framed the investigation's findings. The committee investigated the events leading up to and during the January 6 attack, including the actions of President Trump and his associates in the period between the November 2020 election and the Capitol breach.

Cheney's role on the January 6 Committee had significant consequences within the Republican Party. In November 2021, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to revoke Cheney's membership. In February 2022, the Republican National Committee formally censured Cheney and fellow committee member Adam Kinzinger, characterizing the January 6 investigation as a persecution of "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."

CNN reported on how the relationship between Liz Cheney and her father Dick Cheney informed her decision to confront Trump. One year after the Capitol attack, the former vice president accompanied his daughter to the House floor on January 6, 2022, in a gesture that underscored the family's shared commitment to constitutional principles.[18]

2022 Primary Defeat

Cheney sought re-election in 2022 but faced a formidable challenge in the Republican primary from Harriet Hageman, a Cheyenne attorney who received the endorsement of Donald Trump. The primary became one of the most closely watched races in the 2022 midterm cycle, widely viewed as a referendum on Trump's influence within the Republican Party and on Cheney's decision to break with him.

On August 16, 2022, Cheney lost the primary to Hageman in a landslide, receiving just 28.9% of the vote. In her concession speech, Cheney invoked Abraham Lincoln's loss of a Senate race in 1858 and stated her intention to continue working to prevent Trump from returning to the presidency.

Hageman subsequently won the general election and succeeded Cheney in the House. In December 2025, Hageman announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Cynthia Lummis.[19]

Post-Congressional Career

After leaving Congress in January 2023, Cheney joined the University of Virginia Center for Politics as a professor of practice, teaching courses related to constitutional governance and democratic institutions.

Cheney published a memoir recounting her experiences during the January 6 investigation and the broader struggle within the Republican Party. She also embarked on a national speaking tour, appearing at universities and public forums to discuss threats to democratic governance.

In 2024, Cheney made the notable decision to endorse Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, in the presidential election, placing opposition to Trump above partisan loyalty. She actively campaigned for Harris, appearing at events across the country. Harris was ultimately unsuccessful in the general election.

In 2025, Cheney continued to make public appearances. In September, she spoke at the Pritzker School, where she discussed defending democracy and the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump.[20] In January 2026, she addressed an audience in Sonoma, California, urging attendees to get involved in the midterm election process.[21]

In May 2025, Cheney gave a talk in Anchorage, Alaska, where she appeared to tease the possibility of a future political run.[22]

Personal Life

Cheney is married to Philip Perry, an attorney who served as General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security during the George W. Bush administration. The couple have five children.[2]

Cheney's younger sister, Mary Cheney, is openly gay and has been active in LGBT advocacy. The sisters' differing public positions on same-sex marriage became a source of public family tension during Liz Cheney's 2014 Senate campaign.

In November 2025, Cheney's father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, died. A funeral service was held at which both former President George W. Bush and Liz Cheney delivered tributes.[23] In her eulogy, Cheney recounted her father's final words and emphasized his dedication to the Constitution over partisan considerations.[24]

Recognition

In January 2025, President Joe Biden awarded Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor in the United States, in recognition of her work on the January 6 Committee and her defense of constitutional principles. Biden also issued Cheney a pardon from potential future prosecution, a preemptive measure that reflected concerns about possible retribution from the incoming Trump administration.[25]

Cheney's work on the January 6 Committee drew attention from legal scholars, historians, and the media. Her willingness to break with her party over the events of January 6 was noted as one of the most significant acts of intraparty dissent in modern American political history.

Legacy

Cheney's political career encapsulates a broader tension within the Republican Party between its traditional establishment wing—characterized by hawkish foreign policy, fiscal conservatism, and institutional norms—and the populist movement that coalesced around Donald Trump. As the daughter of one of the most influential vice presidents in American history, Cheney initially seemed positioned to carry forward the Bush–Cheney legacy within the party. Her rapid rise to the third-ranking position in House Republican leadership by 2019 reflected the strength of that institutional base.

However, Cheney's break with Trump over January 6 represented a rupture that proved irreconcilable with the direction of the Republican Party's base. Her removal from leadership, the revocation of her Wyoming Republican Party membership, her censure by the RNC, and her landslide primary defeat together illustrated the extent to which the party had reoriented around loyalty to Trump.

The Guardian assessed that while Trump ended Cheney's career as an elected Republican, the Cheney family's influence continued to linger within certain elements of Republican foreign policy and governance.[25] Cheney herself has stated her intention to remain engaged in public life, whether through political campaigns, educational work, or advocacy for constitutional governance. Her post-congressional career as a professor and public speaker has kept her visible in national discourse about the state of American democracy.

References

  1. ↑ "Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career".The Guardian.2025-11-04.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "CHENEY, Liz".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001109.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ "2000 Campaign: The Republican Running Mate; For Cheney Family, Motto Is All for One".The New York Times.2000-10-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/us/2000-campaign-republican-running-mate-for-cheney-family-motto-all-for-one.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words".CNN.2025-11-20.https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "State Department Post for Cheney Daughter".The New York Times.2002-03-02.https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/world/state-department-post-for-cheney-daughter.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "US unit created to pressure Iran, Syria disbanded".The Boston Globe.2007-05-26.http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/05/26/us_unit_created_to_pressure_iran_syria_disbanded/?page=full.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Political assessment".The New York Times.2005-03-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01assess.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Washington diplomatic changes".The New York Times.2006-04-15.https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/washington/15diplo.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Endorsement: Cheney".MittRomney.com.http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Endorsement_Cheney.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Liz Cheney: Keep America Safe".ThinkProgress.2013-07-17.http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/07/17/2317311/liz-cheney-keep-america-safe/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Welcome: Liz Cheney Joins Fox News as Contributor".Fox News.2012-01-06.http://nation.foxnews.com/liz-cheney/2012/01/06/welcome-liz-cheney-joins-fox-news-contributor.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Fox News Terminates Liz Cheney as Paid Contributor in Light of Senate Run".Mediaite.http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-terminates-liz-cheney-as-paid-contributor-in-light-of-senate-run/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Liz Cheney's Wyoming strategy".The Washington Post.2013-08-04.https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/liz-cheneys-wyoming-strategy/2013/08/04/48939ace-fbb7-11e2-9bde-7ddaa186b751_story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Liz Cheney leading in GOP primary for U.S. House".Casper Star-Tribune.http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/liz-cheney-leading-in-gop-primary-for-u-s-house/article_893cc8bd-364b-508b-8852-956c06f43425.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Liz Cheney Wins Wyoming House Seat".Roll Call.http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/liz-cheney-wins-wyoming-house-seat.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Member profile: Liz Cheney".Congress.gov.https://www.congress.gov/member/liz-cheney/C001109.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Republican-controlled government sees chance to weaken Endangered Species Act".Ars Technica.2017-01.https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/01/republican-controlled-government-sees-chance-to-weaken-endangered-species-act/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "'Country over party': How Dick Cheney helped Liz Cheney stand up to Donald Trump".CNN.2025-11-04.https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/liz-cheney-trump-dick-cheney.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Rep. Harriet Hageman, who defeated Liz Cheney, announces run for Wyoming Senate seat".CNN.2025-12-23.https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/politics/harriet-hageman-wyoming-senate.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney talks defending democracy, Trump GOP at Pritzker".The Daily Northwestern.2025-09-06.https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/09/06/campus/former-u-s-rep-liz-cheney-talks-defending-democracy-trump-gop-at-pritzker/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Liz Cheney urges Sonoma crowd to get involved in midterm elections".Sonoma Index-Tribune.2026-01-14.https://www.sonomanews.com/2026/01/14/cheney-urges-sonoma-crowd-to-get-involved-in-midterm-elections/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Liz Cheney teases Alaska run at Anchorage talk".UAA Northern Light.2025-05-06.https://www.thenorthernlight.org/stories/liz-cheney-teases-alaska-run-at-anchorage-talk.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "George W. Bush, Liz Cheney to deliver tributes at Dick Cheney's funeral service".Politico.2025-11-13.https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/13/dick-cheney-funeral-bush-00650606.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Liz Cheney recounts her father Dick Cheney's final words".CNN.2025-11-20.https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/video/liz-cheney-father-euolgy-vrtc.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Liz Cheney wanted to follow her father's legacy. Instead, Trump ended her career".The Guardian.2025-11-04.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/04/liz-cheney-trump.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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