WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, former Representative Liz Cheney from Wyoming declared her intent to support Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the upcoming November presidential election, citing the significant risk posed by former President Donald Trump.

Cheney stated, “As a conservative and someone who values the Constitution, I have contemplated this extensively. The threat from Donald Trump is so serious that I will not vote for him; instead, I will cast my vote for Kamala Harris,” during her address at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

This endorsement is a noteworthy shift for Cheney, a Republican who served in Congress from 2017 to 2023, and is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who held office under President George W. Bush.

Cheney added, “In swing states, we cannot afford to write in other candidates.” This comment further reinforces her decision.

Cheney, a vocal opponent of Trump since his presidency, co-led the House committee that examined Trump’s attempts to invalidate the 2020 election results and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In the 2020 election, Cheney voted for Trump instead of Joe Biden, a decision she has since expressed regret over.

After becoming a frequent target of Trump’s criticisms, Cheney lost her 2022 Republican primary in Wyoming by over 32 points to Harriet Hageman, a Trump-endorsed candidate who currently serves in the House.

In 2021, Cheney was removed from her position as the third-ranking leader in the House Republican Party. That same year, the Wyoming Republican Party voted to no longer recognize her as a member.

Cheney’s support for Harris follows an open letter from 238 Republicans with ties to either Bush, the late Senator John McCain, or Senator Mitt Romney endorsing Harris just a week prior.

The Harris campaign has been promoting its appeal among anti-Trump Republicans, forming a “Republicans for Harris” group and featuring Republican speakers during last month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Speakers at the convention included former Representative Adam Kinzinger, who served alongside Cheney on the January 6 House panel; former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham; and former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.

Contact Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.