By Leo Wolfson, State Politics Reporter
Leo@Cowboystatedaily.com
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney has endorsed another Democratic.
On Saturday, the Wyoming Republican endorsed U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, the third Democrat she has directly endorsed in the last two weeks.
“I’m honored to endorse Abigail Spanberger. I have worked closely with her in Congress, and I know that she is dedicated to working across the aisle to find solutions,” Cheney said in a Saturday press release from the Spanberger campaign. “We don’t agree on every policy, but I am absolutely certain that Abigail is dedicated to serving this country and her constituents and defending our Constitution.”
2020 Election
Once again, the primary motivation for Cheney’s endorsement of a Democrat is because Spanberger’s opponent has been supported by former President Donald Trump and supports unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.
“Abigail’s opponent is promoting conspiracy theories, denying election outcomes she disagrees with and defending the indefensible,” Cheney said of her Republican challenger, Yesli Vega. “We need our elected leaders to be honest, serious and responsible.”
Vega has sympathized with those who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and pledged to “sponsor legislation” to “release and seek compensation” for those facing charges for attacking the U.S. Capitol.
Vega’s campaign told Fox News the voters don’t believe the “lies” being told by Cheney and Spanberger and they “know Yesli is going to Washington to fight for them, not a political party.”
Endorsements
The race between Spanberger and Vega is seen as a toss-up, according to the Cook Political Report. This is in contrast to the race involving Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, where the Cheney-endorsed candidate has a small lead. In Ohio, where Cheney endorsed Rep. Tim Ryan, the congressman is trailing Trump-endorsed candidate J.D. Vance by a small margin.
Although Cheney has not endorsed the Arizona Democratic candidates running for governor and secretary of state, she has campaigned against their Republican opponents. In the race for governor, Republican Kari Lake has a small lead, while Republican Mark Finchem is trailing by about six points for secretary of state in latest polling in that state.
Cheney notably has not endorsed Virginia Democrat Rep. Elaine Luria, with whom she serves on the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.
Although Cheney has offered mixed support for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, he has taken a different route than she, endorsing Republican candidates in his state and Republicans around the country, whether or not they question the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Not Cheney’s Virginia Rep.
Spanberger, who is considered a moderate Democrat, has a background with the CIA in counterterrorism and worked as a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“While @Liz_Cheney and I may often disagree on policy, we share a commitment to public service, governing with integrity and protecting the strength of our democracy,” Spanberger said in a Saturday post on Twitter. “Thank you for recognizing the stakes of this election and putting country over party.”
Spanberger went on MSNBC on Monday morning and said Cheney’s endorsement of her is “important.”
“It demonstrates that I am building a coalition of people who are focused on governance, on functional governance,” Spanberger said.
Although Cheney owns a home in McLean, Virginia, and has spent a significant portion of her life in the state, she lives outside of Spanberger’s 7th District. Depending on what part of McLean in her home is in, she is represented by either Democrats Jennifer Wexton or Don Beyer. Cheney has not publicly endorsed or supported either campaign.
