She is from one of the most famous Republican families in America. Her voting record on abortion and guns has been exemplary.
And none of that has stopped Liz Cheney from becoming Donald Trump’s latest and most high profile Republican victim.
She has lost her Wyoming congressional seat to a rival supported by Mr Trump, an opponent who has parroted the former president’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
Voters could not forgive Ms Cheney for leading congressional investigations into Mr Trump’s role in the January 6th assault on the Capitol and her vote to impeach him.
But she isn’t giving up without a fight. The battle for democracy in America has only just started raising speculation she will run as a presidential candidate in 2024 to keep Trump from the White House.
The extent of Cheney’s defeat shows how strong a grip he has on the party. It may also encourage him to announce his candidacy for 2024 soon.
We rode into Cody on the eve of the election in a 1971 Pontiac that was customised for Elvis.
It is festooned with more than 19 guns and 500 silver dollars. Its owner, Bob Ferguson, told Sky News it’s only a matter of time before Mr Trump announces his candidacy.
“All the stuff that’s happened since he’s been out of office has probably convinced him more and more that he wants to be president again,” he said. “And wants to redeem what’s been done against him.”
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Inside the rodeo, tourists watched calves being chased and trussed. A clown told jokes at Joe Biden’s expense.
“That cowboy fell faster than Joe Biden off a bicycle,” he quipped. The crowd loved it.
Cowboys were tossed and bucked on steers and mustangs.
Cody is the place where Buffalo Bill is said to have invented the term the Wild West and politics here seems as rough as ever, with Republicans unforgiving in their quest to unseat Liz Cheney.
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Cheney’s defiance in defeat is increasing speculation she may even run as an independent in 2024 to split the Republican vote.
One commentator has compared her to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars and his bitter fight with Darth Vader.
“If you strike me down”, says the Jedi to his caped nemesis, “I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
Ms Cheney has been vanquished in this election, but her struggle with Mr Trump may empower her to rise again and block his path to the presidency.