Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming known for her strong criticisms of former President Donald Trump, announced her intention to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election. Speaking at an event at Duke University, Cheney stated, “I don’t believe that we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states. And 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.”
Cheney’s comments were shared on social media by an event attendee and retweeted by Harris spokesman Ian Sams. This announcement comes as the Harris campaign aims to attract disillusioned Republican voters, having launched a “Republicans for Harris” initiative last month, which featured several Republicans at the Democratic National Convention.
Cheney, who entered Congress in 2016, voted for Trump in the elections of 2016 and 2020. However, following the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, she emerged as one of Trump’s fiercest critics. In 2021, she was one of ten Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment and served as one of the two Republican members on the House committee investigating the January 6 incident, labeling Trump’s actions that day as the “greatest betrayal” by a U.S. president.
Her outspoken opposition to Trump eventually led to her losing a leadership position within the GOP. In 2022, Cheney was defeated in her primary election by a candidate endorsed by Trump.
Cheney joins a growing list of prominent Republicans who have publicly declared their support for Harris, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger from Illinois, who also served on the January 6 committee, and Olivia Troye, a former Trump administration official who distanced herself from the former president after the events of January 6.