Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) announced Friday that she will not run for reelection next year, creating a rare open Senate seat in deep-red Wyoming. She shared her decision shortly after the Senate adjourned for the holiday recess, confirming she will leave the chamber after one term.
Lummis Cites Physical Demands of the Job
Lummis said the intense pace of legislative work led her to step aside. She explained that recent sessions pushed her to reevaluate whether she could commit to another six-year term.
“Deciding not to run again reflects a real change of heart,” Lummis said, according to The Hill. “After the exhausting weeks this fall, I accepted that I do not have another six years in me. I remain devoted to the work, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon.”
Continued Support for Trump and GOP Agenda
Despite leaving the Senate race, Lummis stressed her ongoing commitment to President Donald Trump and Republican priorities.
“I’m honored to have earned President Trump’s support and to work alongside him for the people of Wyoming,” she said. “I look forward to pushing key legislation in 2026 and helping Republicans maintain commonsense control of the Senate.”
A Career Spanning House and Senate Service
Before her Senate term, Lummis served four terms in the U.S. House. She later returned to politics and won the Senate seat previously held by the late Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), according to The Hill.
Major Voice on Cryptocurrency Policy
Lummis leaves behind a significant legacy in cryptocurrency policy. She chairs the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets and has consistently pushed to position the United States as a global leader in digital currency innovation.
Trump highlighted that work earlier this year when he praised Lummis for helping make America “the cryptocurrency capital of the world.”
Another GOP Senate Retirement
Lummis becomes the fifth Republican senator to announce plans not to seek reelection in 2026. She joins Sens. Joni Ernst (Iowa), Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), Thom Tillis (North Carolina), and Tommy Tuberville (Alabama).
Wyoming Primary Takes Shape
Her departure opens the door to a competitive Republican primary in Wyoming. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) stands out as a leading potential contender. Voters will head to the polls in mid-August. Wyoming has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1977.
Trump Endorses Ashley Hinson in Iowa
Trump has already weighed in on another open Senate race. In September, he endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) to succeed Ernst.
Hinson, a former television news anchor now serving her third term in Congress, launched her campaign by highlighting her alignment with Trump. “I’m running to be President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate,” she said.
Trump praised Hinson in a social media post, calling her a “WINNER” who has consistently delivered for Iowa. He added that she has his “complete and total endorsement.”
GOP Leadership Backs Hinson
Hinson has also secured support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
“We need conservative fighters in the Senate, and Ashley Hinson fits that role,” Thune said.
NRSC Chairman Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) echoed that view, saying Hinson will help advance Trump’s agenda in 2026 and beyond.
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