U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., announced Friday that she will not seek reelection next year, setting the stage for an open-seat Republican primary in one of the nation’s most reliably red states.
Lummis made the announcement after the Senate adjourned for the holiday recess, a decision that will end her tenure after a single six-year term in the upper chamber. In a statement, she cited the toll of an intense legislative session and said she does not feel able to commit to another term.
“Deciding not to run for re-election does represent a change of heart for me, but in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do not have six more years in me,” Lummis said. “I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match up.”
Her departure opens a competitive Republican primary, with the state’s primary election scheduled for mid-August. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., is widely viewed as a top-tier potential contender to succeed Lummis, though other candidates are also expected to consider the race.
Wyoming has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1977, making the GOP primary effectively determinative of who will hold the seat.
Lummis also emphasized her continued commitment to advancing Republican priorities during the remainder of her term.
“I am honored to have earned the support of President Trump and to have the opportunity to work side by side with him to fight for the people of Wyoming,” she said. “I look forward to continuing this partnership and throwing all my energy into bringing important legislation to his desk in 2026 and into retaining commonsense Republican control of the U.S. Senate.”
Before her election to the Senate, Lummis served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, later stepping away from elected office before returning to run for the seat previously held by the late Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.
Her decision is expected to have ripple effects in Washington, particularly in the cryptocurrency and digital assets space. Lummis has been one of Congress’ most prominent advocates for crypto-related policy and currently serves as chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets.
Lummis will continue to serve in the Senate through the end of her term.