Liz Cheney was called the winner late Tuesday of Wyoming's Republican primary for the at-large House seat, according to the Associated Press.

Cheney, one daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, beat out Leland Christensen, Darin Smith and Tim Stubson in what was the most competitive congressional race the state has seen in a century with a total of nine candidates.

Mr. Cheney held the seat from 1979 to 1989. Incumbent Rep. Cynthia Lummis, a Republican, announced she would not seek re-election in 2016, opening the seat up for a highly contested race among both Republicans and Democrats.

The political newcomer spent three years in Casper, Wyo., as a child, but has spent years in Washington, D.C., and owns a home in Fairfax County, Va., a suburb outside the Beltway. She purchased a family home in Wilson, Wyo., and took on Republican Sen. Mike Enzi in 2012, but suspended her campaign due to poor health of a family member.

Cheney had the most name recognition among the Republican primary candidates as a Fox News contributor and author.

Cheney was criticized during the primary for holding out-of-state fundraisers with big GOP donors, which helped her pull in $1.5 million — seven times what the runner-up hauled in.