Sen. Mitt Romney Announces Retirement, Shifting Senate GOP Further to the Right
On Wednesday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, made headlines with his announcement that he would retire after his current term. This decision is expected to result in a more conservative Senate GOP. In a video detailing his plans, Romney highlighted the need for a new generation of leaders to shape the future and criticized the leadership of both President Joe Biden and Trump. He also emphasized his age as a factor in his retirement decision, as he would be in his mid-80s by the end of a potential second term.
Romney’s retirement in 2025 will mark the departure of one of the few GOP senators who openly confronted Trump. He was the sole Republican senator to vote for Trump’s conviction in both impeachment trials and the first senator in history to vote to convict a president from his own party. The Republican Party has become increasingly aligned with Trump in recent years, evidenced by the election of six new Republicans, including four election denialists. Therefore, Romney’s departure will leave a void in the Senate for a moderate and bipartisan dealmaker.
Romney’s political journey has been multifaceted. As the former governor of Massachusetts and the GOP presidential nominee in 2012, he is known for his background in private equity and his efforts to expand healthcare. However, his challenge lay in connecting with voters during his presidential campaign, where his comments often made him seem out of touch. Despite prior criticism, Romney praised Trump’s victory in 2016 as he sought consideration for the secretary of state position. In the 2018 elections, Trump surprisingly endorsed Romney for the Utah Senate seat, although the two had previously clashed. Romney’s criticism of Trump intensified in 2019, culminating in his vote to convict the former president in the first impeachment trial. It is worth noting that Romney has faced backlash for his opposition to Trump, with some poll respondents indicating that he should not run again.
In addition to his opposition to Trump, Romney has been one of the few centrist Republican dealmakers, working across the aisle on important bipartisan initiatives. He has supported infrastructure bills, pushed for electoral reforms, and voted in favor of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation. While known for his bipartisanship, Romney has also taken conservative stances, such as endorsing conservative Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation and cosponsoring a 20-week abortion ban.
Romney’s retirement is expected to prompt a competitive Republican primary for his seat in 2024, with candidates who lean more conservative and are aligned with Trump. Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Rep. Blake Moore, and Mayor Trent Staggs are among the potential contenders. These candidates have expressed their conservative values and deference to Trump, reflecting the trend of MAGA-friendly lawmakers replacing more moderate counterparts across the Senate. Despite Utah’s traditionally conservative lean, Trump still garnered significant support in the state in the 2020 election.
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