Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) announced Friday that she will not be running for re-election in 2026, becoming the fourth Senate Republican to retire outright ahead of the midterm elections cycle.
“It’s an incredible honor to represent Wyoming in the U.S. Senate, and throughout my time here, Wyoming has been my one-and-only priority,” Lummis posted to X. “Deciding not to run for reelection 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 left in me.”
She went on to state that while she has enjoyed her time in politics, she increasingly feels like a “sprinter in a marathon” and no longer feels as though she has the energy to keep up.
With the announcement, Lummis becomes the fourth Republican senator to announce her outright retirement, joining Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) will also be leaving the upper chamber in order to pursue gubernatorial bids in their respective states.
“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,” Lummis concluded. “Thank you, Wyoming!”
Thank you, Wyoming! Serving our state has been the honor of my life. – Cynthia Lummis pic.twitter.com/FoRTlHaHxI
— Cynthia Lummis 🦬 (@CynthiaMLummis) December 19, 2025
Lummis has served in public office since 1985, when she was first elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives. After a brief stint as a state senator, she was elected as the state’s treasurer in 1999 and held that position until 2007.
Following a short break, she was then elected to represent Wyoming’s at-large U.S. congressional district and served four terms before retiring in 2017. She then returned to politics once again a few years later, when she replaced the late Mike Enzi in 2021.
Like most of the retiring GOP senators, Lummis hails from a reliably red state and will almost certainly be replaced by a fellow Republican.
The race for the open seat is in its very early stages, with no major Republican candidates having formally announced yet. The most frequently mentioned and likely frontrunner is U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Wyoming’s at-large House member, who is reportedly considering a bid and could announce in the very near future, according to a report from NBC News.
