Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States (2001–2009), sought public office several times beginning in 1978. He was a member of the Republican Party, one of two major parties in the United States. Cheney represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district (1979–1989) in the United States House of Representatives. He briefly served as the House minority whip in 1989 before resigning from the House to serve as the 17th United States Secretary of Defense (1989–1993) under President George H. W. Bush.

House of Representatives (1978–1988)

1978 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1978 (Republican primary):Our Campaigns – WY At-Large – R Primary Race – Sep 12, 1978 Wyoming's at-large congressional district 1978 Republican primary Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney 28,568 42.32 Republican Ed Witzenburger 20,863 30.91 Republican Jack R. Gage 18,075 26.78 Total 67,506 100

Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1978:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 7, 1978 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1978 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney 78,855 58.63 Democratic William D. Bagley 53,522 41.37 Total 132,377 100 Republican gain from Democratic

1980 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1980:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 4, 1980 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1980 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney (inc.) 116,361 68.57 Democratic Jim Rogers 53,338 31.43 Total 169,699 100 Republican hold

1982 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1982:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 2, 1982 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1982 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney (inc.) 113,236 71.09 Democratic Ted Hommel 46,041 28.91 Total 159,277 100 Republican hold

1984 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1984:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 6, 1984 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1984 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney (inc.) 138,234 73.57 Democratic Hugh B. McFadden, Jr. 45,857 24.40 Libertarian Craig Alan McCune 3,813 2.03 Total 187,904 100 Republican hold

1986 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1986:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 4, 1986 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1986 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney (inc.) 110,007 69.28 Democratic Rick F. Gilmore 48,780 30.72 Total 158,787 100 Republican hold

1988 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1988:Our Campaigns – WY At-Large Race – Nov 8, 1988 Wyoming's at-large congressional district, 1988 Party Candidate Votes % Republican Dick Cheney (inc.) 118,350 66.62 Democratic Bryan Sharratt 56,527 31.82 Libertarian Craig Alan McCune 1,906 1.07 New Alliance Al Hamburg 868 0.49 Total 177,651 100 Republican hold

United States Secretary of Defense confirmation (1989) In 1989, Cheney was nominated by newly inaugurated President George H. W. Bush to serve as United States Secretary of Defense. Cheney was chosen after the United States Senate rejected Bush's nomination of Texas Senator John Tower due to his history of alcoholism. In contrast, Cheney, a respected bipartisan, was expected to easily be confirmed. On March 17, Cheney was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 92-0 with 8 Senators not voting.

Presidential elections

2000

Nomination 2000 Republican National Convention (Vice Presidential tally):Our Campaigns – US Vice President – R Convention Race – Jul 20, 2000 Dick Cheney – 2,066 (100.00%)

General election 2000 United States presidential election: George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) – 50,460,110 (47.9%) and 271 electoral votes (30 states carried) Al Gore/Joe Lieberman (D) – 51,003,926 (48.4%) and 266 electoral votes (20 states and D.C. carried) Abstaining – 1 electoral vote (Washington, D.C. faithless elector) Ralph Nader/Winona LaDuke (Green) – 2,883,105 (2.7%) Pat Buchanan/Ezola Foster (Reform) – 449,225 (0.4%) Harry Browne/Art Olivier (Libertarian) – 384,516 (0.4%) Howard Phillips/Curtis Frazier (Constitution) – 98,022 (0.1%) John Hagelin/Nat Goldhaber (Natural Law) – 83,702 (0.1%) Others – 54,652 (0.1%)

2004

Nomination 2004 Republican National Convention (Vice Presidential tally):Our Campaigns – US Vice President – R Convention Race – Aug 23, 2004 Dick Cheney – unanimously

General election 2004 United States presidential election: George W. Bush/Dick Cheney (R) (inc.) – 62,040,610 (50.73%) and 286 electoral votes (31 states carried) John Kerry/John Edwards (D) – 59,028,444 (48.27%) and 251 electoral votes (19 states and D.C. carried) John Edwards (D) – 1 electoral vote (Minnesota faithless elector) Ralph Nader/Peter Camejo (I) – 465,650 (0.38%) Michael Badnarik/Richard Campagna (Libertarian) – 397,265 (0.32%) Michael Peroutka/Chuck Baldwin (Constitution) – 143,630 (0.12%) David Cobb/Pat LaMarche (Green) – 119,859 (0.096%)

References