Ross: Winning a Wyoming primary is as easy as kissing the ring

Wyoming has about 581,000 people, which is about 3/4 of the number of people living within the Seattle City limits.

I mention that because I know many of you dismiss Seattle politics as an anomaly, so if you’re among them, then Wyoming politics probably aren’t worth your time either.

But Liz Cheney’s race is interesting to me because in her concession speech last night she suggested that – in Wyoming — Republican voters prefer liars:

“Two years ago, I won this primary with 73% of the vote. I could easily have done the same again, but it would have required that I go along with President Trump’s lie about the 2020 election and attack the foundations of our republic. That was a path I could not and would not take,” Cheney said.

Cheney’s platform wasn‘t that different from her opponent – against federal land grabs, in favor of more oil and gas production, endorsed by the Wyoming Mining Association.

Her opponent, Harriet Hageman – actually campaigned for Cheney in 2016. In fact, in 2016, Hageman was a never-Trumper. She called him racist and xenophobic.

She later said she had been lied to by liberals. Now, she calls him America’s greatest president and believes the 2020 election was a travesty.

And that got her Trump’s endorsement.

So, this wasn’t about being conservative. This was about the power of kissing the ring.

And it was also a demonstration of the remarkable freedom we enjoy in this country: we Americans are so free, that we can freely vote for someone who would cancel our votes!

65% of Wyoming Republican voters supported a candidate who would have canceled their votes at the whim of an angry president.

And that theme was confirmed in the primary for Wyoming Secretary of State as well – the top Republican vote-getter was Chuck Gray, who promises to ban ballot drop boxes.

We have the freedom to vote for officials who will make it more difficult to vote.

Liz Cheney was defiant last night:

“I have said since January 6, that I will do whatever it takes to ensure Donald Trump is never again anywhere near the Oval Office. And I mean it,” Cheney continued.

But as defiant as she was, she peacefully conceded:

“Harriet Hageman has received the most votes in this primary. She won. I called her to concede the race. This primary election is over,” Cheney added.

So, like I say, Wyoming is our smallest state. And I’m pretty sure most voters are repelled by any candidate who would nullify votes to stay in power. But if I’m wrong – at least we can look back on Liz Cheney’s peaceful concession, and remember fondly how it used to be.

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