The anticipation regarding whether Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) would run again is finally over.
Romney announced on Wednesday that he would NOT be seeking re-election.
However, he also had a little message for Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Romney considers himself a true moderate, and moderates just don't work in this political environment.
He is often called a RINO by MAGA, and if he ran again, Trump would put a target on his head.
So, he did the smart thing and decided to step down, but he says his main reason is due to age so that he can turn it over to the next generation.
On this, Romney stated:
"At the end of another term, I'd be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it's time for a new generation of leaders. They're the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in."
In his announcing speech, he took shots at both Trump and Biden…
In a state like Utah, that seat is going to be safe for a conservative, so his retirement is not really all that big a deal.
I will say, however, that Romney's approval rating soared over the last month or so, going up about 16 points and putting him back in the positive for the first time in forever.
Even though he is retiring, I think he will have a significant say in who takes his place, as will Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), whom Romney did not endorse.
This election will give us a good look at where Utah stands moving forward.
If I am being honest, I have had a grudge against Romney since he lost to Obama in 2012. Obama was ripe for the defeat, but I felt like Romney quit toward the latter part of that election.
Even then, he lost by only five million votes in the popular vote, even though he got his clock cleaned in the electoral.
Had Romney put more time and effort into the race, there would have been a handful of battleground states. I believe he could have won, but he didn't, and he lost.
I have never bought into the idea that I need to like any politician who is not in my state. As long as they are properly representing the people who put them into office, I am okay with them. Now, that will not stop me from criticizing them on issues that impact the entire nation and the great state of Texas, but ultimately, their constituents have the final say.
As a Texas conservative, my national interests may not reflect the same national interests as someone in Utah, and I have always respected that line.
This is why I have always stated that while I want Senator McConnell (R-KY) removed from leadership, I could care less if the people of Kentucky continue to elect that fossil into office every six years, Just get him away from the things that impact me directly, and as Senate leader for the GOP, he has a monumental impact on my state and country.
I look forward to seeing who the party chooses for this seat, but I sure wish someone other than McConnell was leading the way for the Senate in this upcoming election.
