Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Harriet Maxine Hageman was born on October 18, 1962, in Douglas, Wyoming, and was raised on a ranch near Fort Laramie, close to the Nebraska line. Her father, James Hageman, sat in the Wyoming House of Representatives for many years until his death in 2006.
After finishing Lingle/Fort Laramie High School, she earned two University of Wyoming degrees, a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Juris Doctor from its College of Law.
She clerked for Judge James E. Barrett of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and went on to practice as a trial attorney; in 1997 she represented Wyoming in Nebraska v. Wyoming, a case concerning how the North Platte River was managed.
Career
In the 2018 Republican primary for governor of Wyoming, Hageman finished third of six candidates, behind Foster Friess and the winner, state treasurer Mark Gordon. She was Wyoming's Republican National Committeewoman in 2020 and 2021.
On September 9, 2021, she launched a primary challenge to three-term incumbent Liz Cheney for Wyoming's at-large House seat, and Donald Trump soon endorsed her.
She won the 2022 Republican primary with 66.3% to 28.9% for Cheney and then defeated Democrat Lynnette Grey Bull in the general election, 67% to 24%.
Sworn in on January 3, 2023, she became the fourth Republican woman in a row to hold the seat, after Barbara Cubin, Cynthia Lummis, and Cheney, and she won reelection in 2024.
Her House committee work has included the Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, where she has chaired the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
2026 race
Hageman is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Cynthia Lummis, who is leaving after one term and endorsed her. In the Republican primary on August 18, 2026, Hageman took the nomination with 64.9% over Sam Mead, a former mayor of Kirby. Her Democratic opponent in the general election of November 3 is former state representative James W. Byrd.