Former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney had a clear message for Texans feeling disheartened by their political leadership’s support for ex-President Donald Trump: “Vote for Colin Allred.” Cheney was speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, where she expressed her endorsement for the Democrat challenging Texas Senator Ted Cruz this November.
As a former Republican leader, Cheney has been increasingly critical of Trump, especially with the 2024 election approaching. Earlier this week at Duke University, she declared her support for Vice President Kamala Harris, and during her Austin appearance, she shared that her father, ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, would be voting the same way.
Cheney emphasized that while voters might not align with Allred on every issue, it’s crucial to have trustworthy public servants. “We need people who are honorable in this race, and that is Colin Allred. I’ll be supporting him,” she stated, as reported by the Dallas Morning News.
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In response, Cruz, who has backed Trump for 2024, dismissed Cheney’s remarks, labeling her a “poster child of flip-flopping.” She was one of two Republicans on the House Special Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 riots, which ultimately called for a Justice Department probe into Trump’s actions that day.
Cheney lost her Republican primary last year to Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman, who now represents Wyoming’s at-large district. Cruz’s team commented to Dallas Morning News that “Two years ago, Wyoming voters overwhelmingly rejected her, and Texas will do the same with Colin Allred.”
Cheney has warned that Trump is a “danger” to the U.S. Constitution if reelected. Her father echoed this concern in a recent statement, declaring, “In our nation’s history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” He criticized Trump for attempting to overturn the last election “using lies and violence” and asserted that he should never hold power again.