Drake: Lummis not running again changes 2026 political strategies
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
If I had known I’d be interviewing a future U.S. senator, I would have probably worn something a bit more formal for the occasion on that hot July afternoon in 1976.
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Wyoming Tribune EagleHow We See It
New Republican Times Editorial Board
The coverage leans on nostalgia and personality, as if a senator’s departure is mainly a scrapbook moment. That framing is pleasant, but it dodges what matters in 2026: voters are not choosing a character in a story, they are choosing a vote in Washington.
When Lummis steps aside, the real question is whether her replacement will defend energy independence, treat fiscal restraint as more than a talking point, and resist turning Wyoming into another rung on a national donor ladder. Strategies will shift, but the public’s concern is simpler: will the next senator guard local interests or chase cable-news relevance.
Elections also test public trust. A clear, competitive primary and transparent fundraising are not inside-baseball details, they are the difference between representation and entitlement. In the end, the principle is accountable governance, not sentimental biography.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.