Republican Liz Cheney endorses Democrat Elissa Slotkin, will stump for Michigan lawmaker

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, who is running for reelection in a mid-Michigan district in the Nov. 8 election, picked up the endorsement of a notable, if controversial, Republican on Thursday — U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming.

"I'm proud to endorse (her)," Cheney said in a statement first released to the Free Press. "I have come to know Elissa as a good and honorable public servant who works hard for the people she represents, wants what's best for the country, and is in this for the right reasons."

"While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress," she continued.

Cheney, who is best known in Washington these days as former President Donald Trump's most prominent critic, is also coming to Michigan to stump for Slotkin in the Lansing area at an event at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, marking what is believed to be the first time she has worked to elect a Democrat.

Other details about the event were not released Thursday.

The battle for Michigan's newly drawn 7th Congressional district is one of several key contests nationwide that will decide whether Democrats keep their majority or whether Republicans wrest back control of the House.

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Cheney serves with Slotkin on the House Armed Services Committee and is preparing to exit Congress in January after a loss to another Republican, Harriet Hageman, this summer. But she's not ruling out a possible run for president in 2024, in which she could serve as a foil to Trump, should he decide to run. Trump was active in urging Republicans to reject Cheney after she turned against him.

Cheney — who was once the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. House — broke with her party to impeach Trump for instigating his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to serve prominently on the Democrat-led committee investigating that attack. In that role, she has called out other Republicans for refusing to cooperate with the committee and not doing more to hold Trump accountable for his actions.

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Slotkin, a former intelligence officer and acting assistant secretary in the Defense Department, is running for reelection in Michigan's 7th District against state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, in what is likely to be a tight race. In her former roles, Slotkin worked not only for President Barack Obama but his predecessor, President George W. Bush, a Republican, and his vice president, Cheney's dad, Dick Cheney.

Slotkin thanked Cheney for her support.

"At a moment when the very heart of our democracy is being challenged, Rep. Cheney’s voice has been critical,” she said. “I’m grateful for her support in this race and I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to strengthen our national security and America’s role in the world."

"(Throughout) our history, two things have helped us weather times like these: engaged citizens and principled leaders, from both sides of the aisle," Slotkin continued. "Rep. Cheney has shown tremendous leadership over the last two years, and while we certainly don’t agree on every issue, I look forward to welcoming her to Michigan’s 7th district next week to discuss the points where all Americans can leave politics aside and put our country above all else.”

Contact Todd Spangler:tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican Liz Cheney endorses Democrat Elissa Slotkin