Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming announced Tuesday that she is running for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Cynthia Lummis, setting off what is expected to be a closely watched Republican primary in one of the most conservative states in the nation.
Hageman, 63, made the announcement just days after Lummis revealed she will retire at the end of her current term, citing a lack of energy to commit to another six years in the upper chamber. In a statement launching her campaign, Hageman framed her candidacy as a continuation of the work she has already been doing on behalf of Wyoming voters.
“In the House, as I did in my private law practice, I have fought every day for the Constitutional rights of every individual citizen and to protect the sovereignty of this nation,” Hageman said. “As I announce my candidacy to continue to represent Wyoming, now as a United States Senator, I humbly ask the voters for their support.”
Hageman also paid tribute to Lummis, praising her longtime service and conservative record. She said the outgoing senator “leaves a legacy of over four decades of principled, conservative leadership,” adding that both Wyoming and the country are better off because of Lummis’s work.
Within hours of entering the race, Hageman moved swiftly to consolidate support. She secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump, whose backing has proven decisive in Wyoming politics, as well as the influential conservative Club for Growth PAC.
Trump praised Hageman in a Truth Social post, calling her a proven fighter for the state. “I know Harriet well, and she is a TOTAL WINNER!” Trump wrote. “Harriet has ALWAYS delivered for Wyoming, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate.” He added that she has his “Complete and Total Endorsement,” promising, “SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The Club for Growth PAC also announced its support shortly after Hageman entered the race. Group president David McIntosh said Hageman’s record aligns closely with the organization’s priorities. He noted that she has “consistently supported free-market policies, opposed spending increases, and championed deregulatory efforts that have allowed small businesses to thrive.”
Hageman has represented Wyoming as its at-large member of the House since 2023. She rose to national prominence in 2022 when she defeated then-Rep. Liz Cheney in the Republican primary. Cheney had served on the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and became one of the GOP’s most vocal critics of Trump after the events of that day. With Trump’s endorsement, Hageman scored a decisive victory, solidifying her standing with Wyoming’s conservative base.
So far, only one other Republican has filed to run for the seat: military veteran Jimmy Skovgard. With Wyoming’s strong Republican lean, the GOP primary is widely seen as the de facto election, with the winner almost certain to prevail in the general election.
Lummis, 71, announced her retirement last week, saying the demands of the Senate no longer matched her energy level. Her departure opens the door for a new generation of conservative leadership in Wyoming.
With Trump’s backing and early support from major conservative groups, Hageman enters the race as a formidable contender, positioning herself as the heir to Wyoming’s reliably conservative Senate seat and a staunch ally of the America First agenda.
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