SALT LAKE CITY — As Mitt Romney prepares to exit the U.S. Senate, Washington is set to lose one of its most outspoken conservative critics of Donald Trump, just as the president gears up for another term in the coming year.
In a farewell press conference slated for Friday in Salt Lake City, the departing senator will reflect on his two-decade political career, which includes his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, serving as governor of Massachusetts, and facing numerous confrontations with Trump supporters throughout his time in Congress.
At 77, Romney has decided against running for reelection this year after representing Utah in the Senate since 2019. He has shared his intention to engage with younger generations in politics after leaving his post in January, although he has yet to outline any specific plans.
Once a prominent figure in the Republican Party, Romney has witnessed the evolution of his brand of moderate conservatism, which has shifted from being mainstream to more marginalized due to Trump’s growing influence within the party.
Romney quickly became a leading voice for the centrist faction in Congress, playing a crucial role in negotiating the landmark $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law and a substantial COVID-19 relief package during the Biden administration.
Political analysts are voicing concerns that his departure may create a void in strong centrist representation, which is vital for fostering bipartisanship in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
His Senate seat will be filled by Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis, who has earned a reputation for challenging party leaders like Trump, particularly on issues such as climate change, which he insists is a real threat, contrary to some party claims. All eyes will be on Curtis and other moderate Republicans as they navigate potential divergences from party lines regarding Trump’s cabinet nominations.
In 2020, Romney made history by becoming the first senator to vote to convict a president of his own party during an impeachment trial, standing alone as the only Republican in Congress to support Trump’s conviction in both of his impeachment trials, where he ultimately faced acquittal in the Senate.
Earlier this year, Romney announced his decision not to support Trump in future elections, but he stopped short of joining other notable Republicans in endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris, expressing his desire to keep the door open for contributing to the revitalization of the Republican Party in the future.
