Mitt Romney Will Not Run For Reelection
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has announced that he will not be running for reelection in 2024, releasing a video statement explaining his decision and touting his supposed accomplishments while in office.
The two-time failed Republican presidential candidate made the announcement on Wednesday in a video posted to his official YouTube channel. In the clip, Romney touted his support for the so-called “bipartisan” infrastructure bill, the Electoral Count Act bill and emergency COVID aid funding. He then said that it is time for a “new generation of leaders” to make policy for Americans — while also attacking both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
“We face critical challenges — mounting national debt, climate change, and the ambitious authoritarians of Russia and China,” Romney said in the video. “Neither President Biden nor former President Trump are leading their party to confront them.”
“On the deficits and debt, both men refuse to address entitlements even though they represent two-thirds of federal spending,” he continued. “Donald Trump calls global warming a hoax and President Biden offers feel-good solutions that will make no difference to the global climate. On China, President Biden underinvests in the military and President Trump underinvests in our alliances. Political motivations too often impede the solutions that these challenges demand. The next generation of leaders must take America to the next stage of global leadership.”
Throughout his time in the Senate, Romney has managed to anger both sides of the aisle while at the same time trying to appease both sides of the aisle. Being labeled a RINO — “Republican In Name Only” — by conservatives, he has consistently compromised with Democrats on important issues, only to be attacked by the left for being a Republican.
Romney also infamously broke ranks with Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump during his first impeachment trial — which earned him a censure from local county GOP officials and anger from conservative groups.
Many critics have assumed that Romney would face a strong primary challenger due to his impeachment vote and his failure to stand up for conservative values, just as other pro-impeachment RINOs like ousted former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) did. It is likely that Romney chose not to run for reelection in part for this reason, to avoid an embarrassing defeat like Cheney, who lost her primary to Trump-backed candidate Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) by a historic margin — 66% to 28%.
Trump has responded to Romney’s announcement, celebrating the news in an all-caps post on Truth Social.
“Fantastic news for America, the great state of Utah, & for the Republican Party,” he wrote.
“Mitt Romney, sometimes referred to as Pierre Delecto, will not be seeking a second term in the US Senate, where he did not serve with distinction,” Trump continued, referring to Romney’s use of the nickname “Pierre Delecto” as a pseudonym for an anonymous Twitter account created in 2011.
“A big primary fight against him was in the offing, but now that will not be necessary. Congrats to all. Make America Great Again!” he added.
