Here's hoping Harriet Hageman doesn't run for governor.
I hope she runs for re-election to Congress in next year's election, a race polls show she can easily win.
Now, I've never met Harriet Hageman. She's never shown up at my door asking for my vote.
I might not even recognize her if I ran into her in the grocery store, although the turquoise jewelry could be a definite tip-off.
And I haven't attended her town hall meetings. She holds them all over the state, but took a brief hiatus earlier this year when the Middle Finger Brigade shouted her down in Laramie, a shameful, disrespectful display of privileged childishness. The Heckler's Veto prevailed briefly. Nevertheless, she has a great record of showing up around the state to hear what her less volcanic constituents have to say.
Meanwhile, Hageman's 72-percent approval rating is sky-high. She's a steadfast, effective supporter of President Donald Trump and his agenda. That's key in a state that has voted almost 70 percent for Trump, three times.
You wouldn't know that, however, if you read the comments posted on Facebook following her letter to the editor of Cowboy State Daily last week, citing accomplishments so far of the Trump administration, with her support – that Big, Beautiful Bill, closing the southern border almost instantaneously, seeking fairness in the global tariff structure, inflation in the neighborhood of 3 percent compared to the high of 9 percent under Biden, and putting together a cabinet of truly impressive secretaries.
And yet, in a clear display of Trump/Hageman Derangement Syndrome, the social media comments to her update were almost all negative. And nasty.
Her critics demanded a list of accomplishments, in response to a list of accomplishments. But with this angry crowd, nothing Hageman could do would stem the tide of loud, cruel, often vicious comments, marked by personal attacks, and in many instances, just pure hatred.
This, in a state where Hageman has 72-percent approval?
I'll go with the polls, not the Middle Finger Brigade, thanks.
But, let's get back to the point of this column.
I can understand why it would be tempting for Hageman to put Washington in the rear-view mirror and seek four years in the governor's mansion here in Cheyenne. In a body of 435 House members, it can be difficult to make your voice heard, rise above the crowd, and effectively represent your constituents. It's expensive to live in Washington, the hot summers are insufferable, and crime is a huge issue. And who would want all that air travel between Washington and Wyoming?
That said, Hageman, in her two terms as our representative, has done an excellent job making her voice heard in DC, and she has risen above the crowd – pretty important when we have only one seat in the House. Most of all, however, she has steadfastly supported President Trump during this unique opportunity to fundamentally change the mindless, spendthrift, misguided federal bureaucracy that has prevailed in Washington for decades.
And she has been a dogged opponent of that Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan in Rock Springs, insisting successfully that local input as to options should prevail.
Sure, we could use a clear voice like hers in the governor's office, where conservative beliefs of folks like us are often looked down upon, as if our Republican governor is embarrassed by an emerging chunk of Wyoming Republicans. And she could no doubt help at a time when the courts seem to have a far louder voice than the folks we elect to the Legislature when it comes to bedrock issues like abortion, and education.
I get all that.
But, our Freedom Caucus friends had a pretty good year in the Legislature this year. And there are some solid Republicans interested in running for governor if Hageman doesn't.
And there's this. We've seen many strong Republican voices depart the House in recent years, like Ron DeSantis, Trey Goudy, Jason Chaffetz, Kevin McCarthy, and Mike Gallagher, to name a few. And impressive Byron Donalds is now running for governor of Florida.
Harriet Hageman, in two short terms in Congress, has established herself as a powerful voice in Washington in support of Donald Trump's ambitious and vitally-important agenda.
We need Harriet Hageman in Washington, supporting the important work going on there, far more than here in Cheyenne.
We'll get along in Cheyenne.
So, this old Republican voter hopes she stays put.
Dave Simpson can be reached at: DaveSimpson145@hotmail.com
