LAGRANGE – Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Rep. Cynthia Lummis made a campaign stop in LaGrange on Sept. 25.
With five weeks remaining before the 2020 general election to be held Nov. 3, the fundraiser organized by Marlo Ward, Goshen County chairwoman for the Lummis campaign, was an opportunity for the conservative candidate to meet with local constituents and deliver a speech before a crowd of roughly 20 Goshen County residents outside Bear Mountain Stage Shop, surrounded by Lummis For Wyoming yard signs and Trump 2020 flags to support POTUS, whose platform Lummis pledged to uphold if elected.
“I want to tell you how proud I am with what President Trump has done,” Lummis said during the event. “And if people would just set aside some of the things that are tweeted out, and the hours and hours of comments after he does a tweet, and look at what he’s done, before Covid, the economy was so strong.
“And if ever there was a place on the face of the Earth right now that seems more committed to President Trump than any other place, it’s right here,” she said.
Lummis and Ward both acknowledged that Wyoming historically fills its Congressional seats with Republicans; the last Democratic senator from the state was inducted in 1961. Lummis is not only running her own race against Democratic newcomer Dr. Merav Ben-David of Laramie, but also for Republican “friends” in neighboring states, Senators Cory Gardener (R-Colorado) and Steve Daines (R-Montana).
Her goal is to help Republicans maintain control of the Senate, which Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) currently leads with a 53-47 seat majority. To flip the Senate, Democrats would need to net gain four seats in the upcoming election.
Lummis said she will travel around Wyoming for the next two weeks and then will visit and send staffers to Colorado and Montana, as well as New Hampshire where Republican Bryant “Corky” Messner is running against incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
“That’s why your help financially is so critical,” Lummis said. “Because in order to help in other states, we have to have the financial resources to run a rock solid, committed campaign here in Wyoming. So thank you.”
Through July, Lummis dominated other Senate candidates in fundraising, both Democrats and Republicans, according to reports from Wyoming Tribune Eagle. As of July 29, prior to the Aug. 18 Wyoming primary, her campaign received $1,247,208.33 in total contributions compared to opponent Ben-David’s $63,046.18, according to Federal Election Commission data.
“I have been asked on a couple of occasions, ‘why a fundraiser now? This is Wyoming, she’s made it through the primary,’” Ward said in her introduction. “My very passionate answer is that this is a time unlike we have ever seen where it isn’t just about getting the majority of the votes for Cynthia, it’s about getting out the message to vote and that conservative message, our ideals, our morals, our values.”
Lummis pointed to her record in Congress from 2009-2017, which included time serving on the following committees: Agriculture, Appropriations, Budget, Natural Resources, Oversight and Government Reform and Science, Space and Technology. If elected, she said she will be a ranking freshman due to her years served in the House of Representatives.
“That’s good for Wyoming, because we’ll have opportunities to work on committees and issues that are critical to Wyoming,” Lummis said. “Rural broadband is one. I have spoken with the chairman of the Commerce Committee in the senate about this specific issue and wanting to work with him on it. I’d love to be on the Finance Committee because there’s a committee that touches so many areas of the Wyoming economy.”
She also said if fellow Wyoming Republican, Senator John Barrasso, chooses to vacate either the committee on Energy and Natural Resources or Environment and Public Works, she would like to represent Wyoming’s interests there.
Lummis also talked about some personal connections to LaGrange residents, including Ward, who grew up next door to her in Cheyenne, or Diane Humphrey, with whom she rode the school bus in first grade. She thanked hosts and Bear Mountain Stage Shop owners Judy and Dave for their Lummis and Trump signage.
“President Trump would be in hog heaven if they were right here,” Lummis said. One attendee even had a window cling in the back window of their car bearing the likeness of the President in his motorcade.
“Oh, hi Mr. President,” Lummis joked and waved.
Lummis’ visit made clear her hope that both she and Trump will be elected in November to further his agenda in Washington.
“I want to go help President Trump make America great again,” she said.
The Telegram sat down with both Lummis and her opponent, Dr. Merav Ben-David of Laramie. Look for those interviews in Friday’s edition.
