Share your thoughts on this story for 13 minutes by listening to it.
Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and the only member of his party to have twice voted for former President Donald Trump in impeachment trials, has announced that he will not seek a second term in the Senate as the Utah representative. He stated in an interview that it is now time for ‘a new generation to step up and shape the world they’re going to inhabit’.
The reason Romney, aged 76, decided not to run for another term was because he believed that a second term would be less fruitful and more satisfying than the current one. He blamed the disarray among House Republicans and his own lack of faith in the leadership of President Obama and Donald Trump for this decision.
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announced his retirement on September 13 and advised journalists to step back.
He stated in a lengthy phone conversation about the House’s operational challenges, including his belief that either Trump or Biden would be the next president.
Merchandise
Despite being elected with 63 percent of the vote in 2018, Romney announced his intention to serve out his term in the Senate, which ends in January 2025. His decision not to run for president next year is likely to signify the end of a political career that has been notable lately, especially during the Trump era, due to his support for independence and standing up against conservative members of his party.
Romney has been one of Trump’s most vocal detractors since he first ran for office, and his departure is unlikely to change that. In the weeks leading up to Trump’s 2017 inauguration, Romney publicly conceded that appointing him as secretary of state was advisable, but his decision was not lasting.
The 2020 impeachment trial featured only one Republican, Romney, who voted to convict Trump. This included his efforts to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on Biden before the 2020 presidential campaign and withhold aid to that country. Romney was among the seven Republican senators to vote to conviction in the second trial, which took place weeks after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Merchandise
Romney’s political standing was compromised by the two votes, particularly the first one, both at his home in Utah and within a party controlled by Trump. He recognized the damage of not doing what is right but believed that it would be priceless because no one could deny the value of doing good.
The possibility of Romney’s bid for re-election could be a significant issue, according to Republicans who have speculated that his opposition to Trump could make it more challenging to win if he were to run again. However, the senator stated that the fear of losing was not influencing his decision and believed that returning would ultimately lead. He cited tumbling polls in Utah last month that showed approval rising sharply to 56 percent, pushing him ahead of potential rivals.
Romney, the most successful Mormon politician of his time, ran for president twice and served as governor of Massachusetts before relocating to Utah and ascending to the Senate. His father, George, was governor in Michigan and previously served under President Richard M. Nixon as secretary of Housing and Urban Development after unsuccessfully running for office in 1968.
When asked about the 2024 presidential election, Romney stated that he would have preferred to support someone other than Trump as the nominee, but this is unlikely to happen. He also mentioned that his support won’t be advantageous for any of the candidates at the end of their campaign.
Merchandise
The MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) wing of the party is represented by Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who collectively garner the most support among the three nominees, as noted by him.
The party is inclined towards a populist demagogue message, as evidenced by his mention of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina governor and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Caroline that they are more disposed to the latter.
When asked about the possibility of a general election between Biden and Trump, Romney responded that it could be rematch only 50-50. He also stated that his concerns about centrist groups like No Labels making plans to run for president in 2024 would hurt his campaign and that electing Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) would not happen unless he opposed their campaign.
Romney expressed skepticism about the impact of the pending criminal charges against Trump, which amount to 91 felony counts in four cases and jurisdictions, on the political agenda.
Merchandise
According to Romney, the public’s reaction to news is primarily positive when it comes to new information. He also highlighted the accusation that Trump illegally retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and his call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, which involved finding enough votes to change the 2020 election results in that state.
Romney acknowledged that the Hunter Biden investigation is new news and may have political implications for the president. However, he expressed doubt that his son’s business dealings abroad could have made any of this information beneficial to the President. He also declined to discuss whether Trump’S case was related to those cases.
House Committee Chairman Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) urged House committees to initiate an impeachment investigation into the president, with Romney clarifying that McCarthy’s actions were not motivated by pressure from the hard-right Freedom Caucus. He clarified that this was not an imposition and that there had been no allegations that met the high-crimes-and-misdemeanors standard of the Constitution.
Merchandise
After the senator’s video of his announcement was made public, President Biden contacted Romney. A Romney aide characterized the brief call as “friendly” and “respectful.”
Romney opted to remain active in the Senate until the end of next year, instead of engaging in his presidential campaign. He stated that he would not be taking a break from the party and retiring.
According to Romney, the country’s three major challenges necessitate presidential leadership, and Senators can only do so much. He also expressed skepticism about whether Trump or Biden would be willing to tackle these issues, stating that spending seven and a half years in the Senate would not be practical during this time.
He highlighted the need for a comprehensive strategy to address authoritarian leaders abroad, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Additionally, there is ill-conceived strategies to tackle global climate change, which are not just positive outcomes in the U.S. Fiscal issues, such as debts and deficits, according to both Biden and Trump.
Born in Michigan, where his father was the CEO of American Motors Corp. before becoming governor, Romney’s father also made a fortune in private equity as one of the founders of Bain Capital. He began his political career in 1994 after an unsuccessful attempt to defeat then-Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and later became governor of Massachusetts in 2002 after helping save the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Merchandise
After serving as governor, Romney resigned to pursue his party’s presidential nomination in 2008. However, he won the nomination four years later and was defeated by then-President Barack Obama in a campaign that many believed constituted victory for him. He returned to business but briefly explored running for president in 2016 and sought office in Utah in 2018. He also mentioned that despite being told this, “I was disappointed in life,” and expressed disappointment in not having enough experience in the Senate.
During his remarks, Romney acknowledged the achievements of his senatorship and highlighted several accomplishments, such as the bipartisan work on a relief program that was signed into law during heightened tensions with President Trump and his Democratic counterpart Nancy Pelosi. Additionally, he mentioned the construction of infrastructure during Biden’s presidency and referenced provisions for religious liberty in ONE bill that mandated federal recognition of same-sex marriages and the reworking of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
The traditional conservative Romney acknowledged that the Republican Party of 2023 is vastly different from the party that nominated him for president in 2012. He also stated that his wing is now much smaller than the Trump side, but he refused to label the GOP as irretrievably broken. He believed that if a populist faction gained power, it could turn into my revolving partisan faction.
He stated that he wants to keep the party in good standing, but only if Republicans can compete with and attract younger voters who now favor Democrats. This is where Romney’s strength comes from as a former Massachusetts governor who struggled to win over young voters in his 2012 campaign due to their focus on climate change issues that are not underrepresented by the GOP.
Mike Pence, the former vice president, has appealed to traditionalists in the 2024 presidential election. Romney dismissed PENCE’s prospects as a genuine test of conservatism and populism. He believed that Pente is running for office not because of an agenda to restore his legacy or political influence.
Merchandise
How much clout does someone like Romney wield in a party so heavily influenced by Trump’s policies? “I feel we have the right balance, and that’s where it really matters.
Despite opposing additional aid to Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression, Romney expressed concern over the party’s foreign policy.
During his 2012 campaign, Romney was quick to identify Putin’s Russia as a significant threat to U.S. security and credited Trump for implementing softer tactics towards China. However, unlike many in his party, he was not particularly critical of recent efforts by Biden administration officials to engage with China due to their “hot potato” rhetoric.
Merchandise
He stated that our position in relation to China has been significantly bolstered by Russia’s weakness in Ukraine and the support we have provided Ukraine, as well as NATO. To dissuade China from its current course, he called on the United States and other countries to stand together.
Romney acknowledged his ongoing concerns about the state of American democracy and stressed the need to uphold the Constitution and liberal constitutional order. He also noted that some individuals in the global community may be hesitant to endorse Donald Trump due to perceived opposition from voters.
During his interview, he expressed his belief in the strength of the United States. He concluded by stating that our institutions are strong, even when they are constantly under pressure, and emphasized the American people’s commitment to the Constitution and constitutional norms.