Resolutions proposing that U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney’s Republican Party affiliation be rescinded have been rejected by Republican parties in Laramie and Teton counties.
In actions running contrary to what has been seen in eight other counties, members of both the Laramie and Teton county parties this week rejected the resolutions presented as an expression of displeasure with Cheney’s votes against former President Donald Trump.
“The discussion as I was understanding it was people recognized we all make mistakes,” said Mary Martin, chairwoman of the Teton County GOP. “And Liz may have made a huge mistake, but we don’t have the mechanism to withdraw or recall her. She is our duly elected representative whether we like it or not.”
Cheney has been roundly criticized in Wyoming since she voted to impeach Trump on allegations he encouraged attendees at a rally to invade the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. She is also serving on a House committee looking into the invasion.
The Wyoming Republican Party voted in February to censure Cheney for her impeachment vote and in the last several weeks, eight county Republican parties have said Cheney’s affiliation as a Republican should be rescinded.
The resolutions have no power and Cheney cannot be stripped of her Republican affiliation.
However, when the same resolutions came to Republicans in Teton and Laramie counties, they were rejected according to the party chairwomen.
“The discussion on the motion was brief,” said Dani Olsen, chairwoman of the Laramie County Republican Party. “With the vote, there was a resounding vote against the resolution, so it failed to be adopted.”
Olsen said she did not know why members of the Laramie County party cast a “resounding” vote against the resolution, but Martin said in Teton County, members seemed to think that Cheney’s good work for conservative causes outweighed the mistake she may have made by aligning herself against Trump.
“I think we have a considerable group that is happy with Liz,” she said. “They feel she’s done a lot to help the conservative cause outside of this battle she’s taken up on Jan. 6.”
In addition, many felt that if people are unhappy with Cheney, they should simply vote against her in 2022, Martin said.
“If you’re unhappy with her, don’t vote for her,” she said. “Whether we like it or not, she’s been voted in and she’s the representative we have.”
