Liz Cheney Exits Senate Race

Things might now settle down around the Cheney family dinner table: Liz Cheney is dropping her controversial bid for a Senate seat in Wyoming. Cheney announced today she is dropping out of the race that sparked a very public feud with sister Mary and her wife over gay marriage, Politico reports. "Serious health issues have recently arisen in our family," Cheney said in a statement. "My children and their futures were the motivation for our campaign and their health and well-being will always be my overriding priority."

Though Cheney's family drama was often front and center, it wasn't her only concern: She was fighting an uphill battle against fellow conservative Republican Mike Enzi, who has a solid track record in the state, the New York Times reports. Two early partisan polls showed him with a wide lead over Dick Cheney's eldest daughter, CNN adds. Still, Cheney's decision to bail was a "surprise" to many Republicans, including her supporters, Politico notes, adding that the way is now clear for Enzi to land his fourth term. (More Liz Cheney stories.)