Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) endorsed Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) in her tight reelection race in Virginia, marking Cheney’s third endorsement of a congressional Democrat against their GOP challengers.
Since losing her own reelection bid in August, Cheney has waded into only a few midterm races to offer her endorsement — often to offer criticism of candidates who have relied on support from former President Donald Trump and have echoed his claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
Cheney acknowledged she and Spanberger have not always agreed on policy decisions, but she said she was “honored” to support someone dedicated to working across the aisle.
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“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,” Cheney said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Abigail’s opponent is promoting conspiracy theories, denying election outcomes she disagrees with, and defending the indefensible. We need our elected leaders to be honest, serious, and responsible, which is why I would urge voters in Virginia’s 7th District to support Abigail Spanberger.”
Spanberger faces a tight reelection challenge from Republican candidate Yesli Vega, whom Trump endorsed in late October. Despite suggesting the 2020 election was “interfered with,” Vega has maintained she does not believe the 2020 election was outright stolen.
Spanberger is among those who rose to fame in 2018 after she sought to distance herself from national Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ultimately unseating incumbent Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA).
Now, Spanberger faces a tight race against Vega in a district that could lean in either direction, as voters overwhelmingly voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 but opted for GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021. The latest polling from RRH Elections shows the race in a dead heat, with both Spanberger and Vega polling 47%.
The race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District has become one of the most consequential House races this cycle as a loss for Democrats would further bolster Republican chances to take control of the lower chamber next Congress.
Cheney has appeared on the campaign trail alongside a handful of other Democrats in the final weeks of the election cycle, stumping for gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs in Arizona, as well as endorsing Rep. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan and Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio over their Trump-backed opponents.
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Cheney, one of two Republicans on the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and one of 10 who voted to impeach Trump, was one of the former president’s most high-profile targets in the 2022 midterm election cycle. The Wyoming Republican focused much of her campaign on denouncing Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, urging Democrats and independents in the state to re-register to vote for her in the GOP primary.
However, she finished far behind Trump-backed Harriet Hageman, a onetime ally and informal adviser to Cheney. Cheney is the fourth House Republican to lose her reelection bid after voting to impeach Trump, with only Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA) surviving their primary challenges. The other four chose not to seek reelection.
