Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Wednesday he will not seek a second term in the Senate, telling the Washington Post it is time for a new generation to “step up.”
Why it matters: It marks the end of a decades-long political career for the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 GOP presidential nominee, who in recent years became one of the most high-profile Republican critics of former President Trump.
What he’s saying: “I have spent my last 25 years in public service of one kind or another. At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-eighties. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders,” Romney, 76, said in a statement.
The backdrop: Romney, the son of former Michigan governor and presidential candidate George Romney, began his career in the private sector and was a co-founder of private equity firm Bain Capital.
State of play: Romney had stoked considerable anger from the GOP base by voting to convict Trump in both his Senate impeachment trials and generally positioning himself as one of the most moderate Senate Republicans.
What we’re hearing: Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) told Axios he is “not ruling anything out” when asked about a possible run for Romney’s seat.
