Politics in the West is usually about water rights or ranching. But in 2022, Wyoming became the center of the American political universe. Everyone wanted to know the same thing: who would actually take the seat held by one of the most famous names in GOP history? Honestly, the answer wasn't just a name. It was a massive shift in how the state—and the country—voted.
Harriet Hageman is the person who replaced Liz Cheney in Congress. She didn't just win; she won by a landslide. We are talking about a nearly 40-point margin that basically sent a shockwave through the halls of D.C.
Hageman was sworn into office on January 3, 2023. Since then, she’s been anything but a quiet freshman. While Cheney was focused on the national drama of the January 6th Committee, Hageman leaned hard into the issues that keep Wyomingites up at night: federal land overreach, coal, and the "administrative state."
The Harriet Hageman Surge: How It Happened
You’ve gotta understand that Hageman wasn't some random outsider. She was a powerhouse litigation attorney. For thirty years, she’d been fighting the federal government in court over water and property rights. To a lot of people in Casper and Cheyenne, she was already a hero before she even announced her run.
What’s wild is that Hageman and Cheney used to be on the same side. Hageman actually worked as an advisor to Cheney during her 2016 campaign. But the relationship soured fast. Hageman felt that Cheney had "betrayed" the state by focusing more on her feud with Donald Trump than on the needs of her constituents.
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When Trump gave Hageman his formal endorsement in September 2021, the race was effectively over. Cheney had the money—raising over $15 million—but Hageman had the momentum. In the end, the primary results weren't even close:
- Harriet Hageman: 66.3%
- Liz Cheney: 28.9%
That’s a staggering loss for an incumbent. It was actually the second-worst primary defeat for a House incumbent in sixty years.
Life After Cheney: What Hageman Does in D.C.
Since taking over the at-large seat, Hageman has stayed busy. She’s not just sitting in the back row. She secured seats on the House Judiciary Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. These aren't just "filler" assignments. They are where the real power lies for a state like Wyoming.
As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, she spends her time grilling bureaucrats about federal regulations. She’s become a leading voice against what she calls the "weaponization" of the federal government. For her, it’s all about the Constitution. She’s a "Rule of Law" person through and through.
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Key Policy Wins and Controversies
Hageman has focused a ton on energy. She co-chairs the Congressional Coal Caucus. If you know Wyoming, you know coal is the lifeblood of the economy in places like the Powder River Basin. She’s also been a fierce advocate for the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), which redirected funds toward rural healthcare in her home state.
But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. In mid-2025, she caught some heat back home for supporting a proposal by Senator Mike Lee to mandate the sale of certain federal lands. People in Wyoming love their public land—even the staunch conservatives. After a massive rally at the State Capitol, the proposal was eventually pulled. It was a rare moment where Hageman had to navigate a divide between national conservative policy and local sentiment.
The Next Big Move: Running for Senate
If you thought Hageman was going to stay in the House forever, think again. On December 23, 2025, she made a massive announcement. She’s running for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
The seat is opening up because Senator Cynthia Lummis is retiring. Hageman is already the front-runner. It’s a classic Wyoming political ladder: the lone House seat is often a stepping stone to the Senate.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
A lot of national pundits thought the 2022 election was purely about Donald Trump. That’s a bit of a simplification. Honestly, it was about representation.
People in Wyoming felt that Cheney had stopped listening. When you’re the only representative for an entire state, you have to be there. You have to be at the county fairs and the local GOP breakfasts. While Cheney was delivering primetime opening statements in D.C., Hageman was driving thousands of miles across the Wyoming plains.
Cheney’s loss wasn't just a "Trump thing." It was a "Wyoming thing." The voters wanted someone who lived and breathed the issues of the West, not someone who had become a darling of the national media.
Actionable Insights: Following the New Wyoming Guard
If you're trying to keep track of where Wyoming’s political power is headed, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Watch the 2026 Senate Primary: Hageman is the favorite, but Wyoming politics can be unpredictable. Look for how she balances her national "firebrand" persona with local land-use issues.
- Monitor the Natural Resources Committee: This is where Hageman does her most impactful work for the state. Any changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will likely have her fingerprints on them.
- Look at the "Old Guard" vs. "New Guard": The Cheney family represented a specific era of the GOP. Hageman represents the new, more populist, and more confrontational wing. This shift isn't just happening in Wyoming; it's the blueprint for the entire party.
Hageman has proven that you can be a freshman in Congress and still carry a massive amount of weight. She didn't just replace Liz Cheney; she fundamentally changed the job description of a Wyoming representative.
To stay updated on Harriet Hageman’s legislative moves, you should regularly check the House Judiciary Committee's hearing schedule and the official Congressional Record for her latest sponsored bills, especially the Parental Rights Relief Act and the Sunset to Reform Section 230 Act. These provide a direct look at how she is attempting to reshape federal law during her remaining time in the House.