This can be accomplished with a two-step process. First, Cheney runs for reelection, not in the primary to become the official Republican nominee but as a principled independent in the general election who retains her personal Republican allegiance. Second, Wyoming Democrats do not support a candidate to oppose her.

The result would be a November contest in which all citizens of Wyoming could choose between two candidates who are aligned on the broad range of public policy issues and differ largely on the question of Donald Trump’s assault on the electoral process. Cheney can make clear that if elected, she will not vote for a Democratic speaker or change her position on any substantive questions. This will make it possible for other Republican leaders who share her principled commitment to campaign for her even though she is not the official nominee.

There will be hundreds of contests in the country in which Democrats and Republicans will differ sharply on the question of how to protect the integrity of elections. But they will also disagree on abortion, climate change, the level and content of government spending, etc. Only in an election in which candidates largely agree on the issues will it be possible for voters to decide whether losers of a fairly conducted election should have to abide by its results or whether it is acceptable to engage in blatant lies, bizarre fantasies, vicious personal attacks on innocent people and sporadic violence.