Liz Cheney, '96: Wins Wyoming U.S. House Seat

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Liz Cheney has won the Wyoming U.S. House seat formerly held by her father.

Cheney beat Democrat Ryan Greene of Rock Springs. Greene is an employee in his family's oilfield services business.

Neither Cheney nor Greene has held elected office, but Cheney prevailed with much wider name recognition. She is former Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter and a former Fox News commentator.

Cheney's campaign took a tough stance against the federal government. She says too much regulation is killing Wyoming's coal industry.

The 50-year-old Republican will occupy the seat her father held from 1979 to 1989. In electing her, Wyoming will continue a recent tradition of selecting a woman for the seat — following Barbara Cubin, who was the representative from 1995 to 2008, and current U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, who has served from 2008 and has decided to return to Wyoming at the end of this term.

Greene, 34, of Rock Springs, billed himself as a Wyoming Democrat who diverges from his national party’s energy agenda. He said his career helping run his family’s energy service company sent him regularly into oil fields and coal mines. He said he supports fossil fuels but that the market determines demand for renewable and nonrenewable energy. He believes humans are contributing to global climate change.

Cheney, in contrast, said she does not believe in people's contribution to climate change. She does not believe the government should regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. She’s said she wants to reduce the size and scope of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Libertarian candidate in the race is Libertarian Lawrence Struempf, a teacher with management experience. He had 4 percent of the vote in early results. The Constitution Party candidate is Daniel Cummings, a Casper physician, who had 3 percent of the vote in early results.

Republican voters outnumber Democrats three to one in Wyoming, which was expected to give Cheney the edge. Wyoming has sent Republicans to the U.S. House for the last 40 years.