Our Great Task is a political action committee formed to oppose the political campaigns of former President Donald Trump founded by former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). ¹ The term “Great Task” is drawn from a speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln. ²

Our Great Task pays into and receives donations through ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform. ³

Background

Our Great Task is political action committee (PAC) formed to oppose the political campaigns of former President Donald Trump founded by former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). ¹

The organization argued that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents must work together to ensure the defeat of former President Trump and his “enablers.” It called defeating former President Trump’s return to office “the cause of our time.” ¹

Sheryl Jahns is the treasurer of Our Great Task. ⁴

Cheney announced the Our Great Task PAC after former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R), dropped out of the 2024 Republican primary elections in March that year. ² Cheney posted on X, formerly Twitter: “The GOP has chosen. They will nominate a man who attempted to overturn an election and seize power. We have eight months to save our republic and ensure Donald Trump is never anywhere near the Oval Office again. Join me in the fight for our nation’s freedom.” ²

The term “Great Task” is named after a speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln. The website says, “Speaking at Gettysburg, Lincoln described our Great Task, ‘that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth.’” ²

Founder

Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney (R), represented Wyoming’s at-large U.S. House of Representatives district from 2017 through 2023. She was chair of the House Republican Conference, the number-three party leadership post, from 2019 to 2021. ⁵

After breaking with her party and losing her leadership post, Cheney was named vice chair of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). ⁵

Cheney was previously at the U.S. State Department as the principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. In 2022, Cheney received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s Profile in Courage Award, with a commendation for her “consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy.” ⁵

Cheney used the phrase “our great task” in a campaign ad for her Republican primary that she lost in 2022 to now-Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), whom former President Trump endorsed. Cheney asserted in the ad: “Millions of Americans across our nation – Republicans, Democrats, independents – stand united in the cause of freedom. We are stronger, more dedicated and more determined than those trying to destroy our republic. This is our great task and we will prevail.” ⁶

Financials

Our Great Task pays into and receives donations through ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform. It paid $8,662 to ActBlue Technical Services in June 2024, and received at least $159,510 through the group in June. ⁷

Cheney established two political committees. Another PAC, The Great Task, first filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in March during her re-election campaign in 2022. The Great Task raised $1.05 million in contributions from 2023 and spent $4.6 million. The remaining $3.5 million was used to start Our Great Task in March 2024. Our Great task raised $3.6 million. ³

FEC data shows that as of June 30, 2024, Our Great Task had $2.8 million cash on hand. ⁴

1. “About.” Our Great Task. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://greattask.com/about/
2.  Arco, Matt. “Liz Cheney announces her latest plan to keep Trump out of White House.” NJ.com. March 6, 2024. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.nj.com/news/2024/03/liz-cheney-announces-her-latest-effort-to-keep-trump-out-of-white-house.html
3. Wolfson, Leo. “Liz Cheney’s Super PAC Supports Fundraising Platform For Democratic Candidates.” Cowboy State Daily. July 25, 2024. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/07/25/liz-cheneys-super-pac-supports-fundraising-platform-for-democratic-candidates/
4.  “Our Great Task.” Open Secrets. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/our-great-task/C00872887/summary/2024
5.  “Liz Cheney.” Our Great Task. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://greattask.com/liz-cheney/
6. “The Great Task.” Iowa State University. Archives of Women in Political Communication. August 11, 2022. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2022/08/15/the-great-task-aug-11-2022/
7. Wolfson, Leo. “Liz Cheney’s Super PAC Supports Fundraising Platform For Democratic Candidates.”

   Cowboy State Daily. July 25, 2024. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/07/25/liz-cheneys-super-pac-supports-fundraising-platform-for-democratic-candidates/