SALT LAKE CITY — As Mitt Romney prepares to conclude his tenure in the U.S. Senate, the political landscape in Washington will lose one of its most outspoken conservative critics of Donald Trump as the president gears up for another term in the coming year.
During a farewell press conference set for Friday in Salt Lake City, the departing senator will reflect on his extensive political career, which spans two decades and includes a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, his role as the governor of Massachusetts, and his many encounters with Trump supporters on Capitol Hill.
At 77 years old, Romney has chosen not to pursue reelection this year after representing Utah in the Senate since 2019. He has indicated a desire to engage younger individuals in political discourse once he steps down in January, though he has yet to specify any particular projects or initiatives.
Once a prominent figure within the Republican Party, Romney has witnessed the shift of his brand of moderate conservatism from a mainstream ideology to a more marginalized stance as Trump’s influence expanded within the party.
He quickly established himself as a significant voice for the centrist faction in Congress, playing a crucial role in brokering the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law—one of the Biden administration’s key accomplishments—and in securing a substantial COVID-19 relief package.
Political observers are wary that his departure may create a void in robust centrist representation, which is vital for fostering bipartisanship in an increasingly polarized political climate.
Romney’s Senate seat will be assumed by Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis, known for his willingness to challenge party leaders like Trump, especially on matters such as climate change, which he maintains is a genuine concern despite dissenting opinions from some party members. All eyes will be on Curtis and other moderate Republicans as they navigate potential deviations from party norms regarding Trump’s cabinet nominations.
In a historic move in 2020, Romney became the first senator to vote to convict a president of his own party during an impeachment trial. He stood out as the sole Republican in Congress who supported the conviction of Trump in both impeachment trials, which ultimately resulted in Trump’s acquittal by the Senate.
Earlier this year, Romney declared that he would not endorse Trump in future elections but stopped short of supporting Democrat Kamala Harris, expressing his intention to retain his ability to contribute to the Republican Party’s future rejuvenation.
