Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis Steps Down After Calling Herself a “Sprinter in a Marathon”

Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, known as the “Crypto Queen,” announced Friday she will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate.

Lummis, elected in 2020, made the announcement on social media. “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,” she wrote.

“The decision not to run for reelection represents 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,” the 71-year-old Lummis said. “I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match up.”

Lummis highlighted her partnership with President Donald Trump and expressed confidence in continuing collaboration for Wyoming’s interests. “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,” she stated.

Lummis has positioned herself as one of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for cryptocurrency and digital assets, working on bipartisan crypto legislation that became law last summer and advancing new regulatory bills supported by industry groups. Earlier this year, she proposed legislation aimed at protecting artificial intelligence companies from certain liability lawsuits if they meet disclosure requirements.

Alex Latcham, senior director of the Senate Leadership Fund, praised Lummis: “We sincerely thank Senator Cynthia Lummis for her dedicated service to the people of Wyoming and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement. Senator Lummis’ strong conservative record is unquestioned, and her list of accomplishments includes ensuring that the United States is the world leader in digital currencies and energy production.”

Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., is considering running for Lummis’ seat and could announce her candidacy next month, according to Politico. “Senator Lummis has been a trailblazer for Wyoming and has been key in educating other members of Congress, including other Republicans, about what life is like in our Western states,” Hageman said.

Whomever secures the Republican nomination will be the overwhelming favorite in Wyoming, where Democrats have been consistently defeated by double digits in the last 13 Senate elections.