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Former Wyoming GOP lawmaker mulling Senate bid to replace Enzi

by Rachel Frazin - 05/10/19 12:49 PM ET

Former Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R) is reportedly considering a Senate bid to fill the seat that Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) will vacate in 2020.

Multiple sources told the Casper Star-Tribune that Lummis, who left office in 2016, is mulling a Senate run.

Her former chief of staff Tucker Fagan told the newspaper that Lummis has received “numerous” calls from former colleagues encouraging her to run.{mosads}

“She’s had a lot of stuff on her plate, and she’s working through those. And she’s not done yet,” Fagan said.

“But I know she is getting calls from people in Congress saying ‘hey, if Enzi’s going out, you should take it seriously.’ And she’s doing that. She’s mulling her business, family, lifestyle and the possibility of a run,” he added.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who served in the conservative House Freedom Caucus with Lummis, said in a statement to The Hill on Friday that she would be an “excellent choice” to replace Enzi.

“Cynthia loves Wyoming and has a servant’s heart,” he said. “She would be an excellent choice to replace Mr. Enzi, who has served our country and his state well.”

Lummis’s campaign committee has about $122,000 on hand, according to recent Federal Election Commission disclosures.

Lummis was previously considered to replace Ryan Zinke as Interior secretary and said at the time it was a position she was interested in.

The Hill reported earlier this week that she is a potential contender for the Wyoming Senate seat.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is among those who have been floated as a potential replacement for Enzi. The second-term congresswoman and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney is currently the third-ranking House Republican.

Enzi announced his upcoming retirement earlier this month.

Scott Wong contributed to this report. Updated 3:23 p.m.

Tags Cynthia Lummis Liz Cheney Mark Meadows Mike Enzi Ryan Zinke