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Mitt Romney is calling it quits.
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The Utah senator voted to impeach Trump twice.
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Romney called for a new generation of leaders.
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Americans are fed up with their older leaders.
(NewsReady.com) – Just over a decade ago, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) was the most popular member of the Republican Party. He won the GOP primary in 2012 and faced off against former President Barack Obama in the election. The country’s first black president won reelection, and Romney faded into the background.
Romney made a resurgence in 2018 when 45th President Donald Trump endorsed him for senator. He soon angered the party’s base, and now he’s made a major decision.
Not Running
On September 13, The Washington Post published an interview with Romney. In it, the senator announced he was not seeking reelection. The 76-year-old’s decision likely means his political career, which has spanned decades, is over. It comes at a time when his party is moving away from the political principles that led to his popularity all those years ago.
Romney told the paper that his decision was largely based on his belief that a second term would not be as satisfying as his first had been. He slammed the current state of politics, expressing dissatisfaction with both President Joe Biden and President Trump, saying one would likely win the next presidential election.
Romney v. Trump
In recent years, Romney has fallen out of favor with the Republican base because of his willingness to attack Trump. He’s the only conservative member of Congress to vote against the 45th president during his impeachment trials.
The senator acknowledged that his position on Trump has cost him politically. He told The Post, “If there were no cost to doing what’s right, there’d be no such thing as courage.” Though he won the Senate race in Utah in 2018 with 63% of the vote, some experts thought he would have a hard time in the reelection race. His approval rating has been dropping in the state.
New Generation
In Romney’s official announcement, he said he had spent 25 years in public service. He explained that if he ran for office again, he would be in his mid-80s at the end of his second Senate term. Instead, he has decided “it’s time for a new generation of leaders.” The senator said those younger Americans “need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in.”
The senator’s remarks come at a time when America is calling on older members of Congress to resign. Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) have both made headlines for the health battles they’ve publicly fought while refusing to step down from their positions. Trump and Biden are the oldest men to ever serve as president, and they will be even older if either of them is reelected. Many Americans are frustrated by the current state of politics for that reason.
Romney’s term will end in January 2025.
Copyright 2023, NewsReady.com
