SALT LAKE CITY — As Mitt Romney prepares to step away from the U.S. Senate, Washington is set to lose one of its most outspoken conservative voices against Donald Trump as the president embarks on another term next year.
During a farewell press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, the departing senator will reflect on his two-decade political career, which includes a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, a tenure as the governor of Massachusetts, and numerous clashes with Trump supporters within Congress.
At the age of 77, Romney decided against running for reelection this year after serving Utah in the Senate since 2019. He has indicated a wish to engage younger generations in political discourse post-office, although specifics on his plans remain undisclosed.
Once a prominent figure in the Republican Party, Romney has watched as his brand of moderate conservatism has shifted from being mainstream to increasingly sidelined as Trump’s influence deepens within the party.
He quickly became a significant voice for centrists in Congress, playing a crucial role in negotiating the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law—one of the key achievements of the Biden administration—and a major COVID-19 relief package.
Political analysts worry that his departure may leave a void in strong centrist representation, which is vital for fostering bipartisanship in an era of intense political polarization in Washington.
Romney’s Senate seat will be taken over by Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis, who has gained a reputation for challenging party leadership, including Trump, particularly on issues such as climate change, which he asserts is a pressing reality despite some party members’ contrary beliefs. All eyes will be on Curtis and other moderate Republicans as they navigate party lines when it comes to confirming Trump’s cabinet nominees.
In a historic moment in 2020, Romney became the first senator to vote to convict a president from his own party during an impeachment trial. He stood alone as the only Republican in Congress to back the conviction of Trump in both impeachment proceedings, where Trump was ultimately acquitted by the Senate.
Earlier this year, Romney declared that he would not support Trump in upcoming elections but chose not to join other prominent Republicans endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris, expressing a desire to remain in a position to contribute to the future rejuvenation of the Republican Party.
