Romney Won’t Run for Second Senate Term

Facts

• On Wednesday, 76-year-old US Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announced in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, that he wouldn't seek re-election beyond his current term that ends in January 2025, pointing to the fact that he would be in his mid-eighties by the time he completed another term.¹
• In his statement, Romney said, 'It’s time for a new generation of leaders' to make decisions that will shape the world, especially in the critical realms of national debt, climate change, and relations with China and Russia.²
• Romney also characterized Pres. Joe Biden and former Pres. Donald Trump — the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination — as not leading the parties to confront those issues.³
• During his one term in the Senate, Romney garnered attention as the lone Republican to vote to convict Trump in the 2020 impeachment trial and as one of seven Republicans who voted to convict after the second impeachment trial.⁴
• Romney, the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee, who lost to incumbent Pres. Barack Obama, won his Senate seat with 63% of the vote in 2018.⁵

Sources: ¹USA Today, ²FOX News, ³Associated Press, ⁴Washington Post and ⁵The Hill.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Romney's time in the Senate was overshadowed by his attacks on his fellow Republicans, with his decision to vote in favor of the Democrats’ bogus impeachments of Trump sealing his RINO status. His criticisms from the sidelines after his term is up will be as ineffective as his work as a Senator.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. Romney can't be blamed for stepping aside, considering how radicalized the Republican party has become. He's remained entrenched in conservatism, but there are some who see him as a leftist, and he was likely to lose a primary. It's unfortunate that Democrats will be losing a common-sense Republican with whom they could negotiate on vital matters.