Current:Home > NewsMitt Romney’s Senate exit may create a vacuum of vocal, conservative Trump critics -TradeBridge
Mitt Romney’s Senate exit may create a vacuum of vocal, conservative Trump critics
View
Date:2025-04-12 19:42:12
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — With Mitt Romneyset to exit the U.S. Senate, Washington will be without one of its strongest conservative critics of Donald Trump when the president retakes the White House in the new year.
The retiring senator will reflect on his two-decade political career, which included the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, a term as Massachusetts governor and several skirmishes with Trump loyalists in Congress, at a final news conference Friday in Salt Lake City.
Romney, 77, chose not to run for reelection this year after representing Utah in the Senate since 2019. He has said he wants to focus on getting more young people involved in politics after he leaves office in January but has not shared specific plans.
Once the standard-bearer of the Republican Party, Romney watched his brand of moderate conservatism shift from establishment to outlier as Trump took hold of the party.
He soon became the voice of Congress’ centrist core, leading negotiations for the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure law — one of the Biden administration’s crowning achievements — and a major COVID-19 relief package.
Political observers worry his departure may create a vacuum of strong centrist voices who can keep bipartisanship alive at a time of increased polarization in Washington.
Romney will be succeeded in the Senate by Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis, who has developed a reputation for pushing back against party leaders such as Trump who falsely claim climate changeis a hoax. Eyes will be on Curtis and other moderate Republicans who might break with the party in votes to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks.
In 2020, Romney became the first senator in U.S. history to vote to convicta president from their own party in an impeachment trial. He was the sole Republican in Congress to vote to convict Trump at his two impeachment trials. Trump was acquitted by the Senate both times.
Earlier this year, Romney pledged not to vote for Trump but declined to join some other high-profile Republicans in endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris, saying he wanted to preserve his future ability to help rebuild the Republican Party.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Ghana's parliament passes strict new anti-LGBTQ legislation to extend sentences and expand scope
- Wendy Williams' guardianship is the subject of a new documentary. Here's how it works
- CVS and Walgreens to start dispensing the abortion pill in states where it's legal
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Millie Bobby Brown Dives Deep Into How Fiancé Jake Bongiovi Proposed
- Queen Camilla Taking a Break From Royal Duties After Filling in for King Charles III
- Elle King Returns to the Stage After Drunken Dolly Parton Tribute Incident
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Putin says talk of NATO troops being sent to Ukraine raises the real threat of a nuclear conflict
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Researchers found a new species in the waters off of the U.K. — but they didn't realize it at first
- Driver rescued after crashed semi dangles off Louisville bridge: She was praying
- Driver rescued after crashed semi dangles off Louisville bridge: She was praying
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Caitlin Clark's scoring record doesn't matter. She's bigger than any number
- Kate Winslet's 'The Regime' is dictators gone wild. Sometimes it's funny.
- 'Goodnight, Odie:' Historic Odysseus lunar lander powers down after a week on the moon
Recommendation
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Monarch butterflies are not considered endangered. But a new study shows they are dwindling.
Removed during protests, Louisville's statue of King Louis XVI is still in limbo
A ship earlier hit by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea, the first vessel lost in conflict
Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
The IRS is sending 125,000 compliance letters in campaign against wealthy tax cheats
Movie Review: It’s lonely out in space for Adam Sandler in pensive sci-fi psychodrama ‘Spaceman’
Cause of death for Thomas Kingston, Lady Gabriella's husband, is released: Reports