Orrin Hatch Announces Wont Run Again
Story highlights
- Mitt Romney may run for Hatch's Senate seat
- President Trump urged Hatch, the longest-serving Republican, to run once again
(CNN)Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch announced Tuesday that he won't seek re-election this year, clearing the mode for Mitt Romney to return to the national stage by running for his seat.
He said in a social media message, "after much prayer and discussion with family unit and friends I've decided to retire at the stop of this term."
Hatch, the Senate'due south longest serving Republican, has wrestled with the decision for months, emboldened by the entreaties of President Donald Trump to seek an eighth term.
Now, it sets upwards a potential path for Trump critic Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, to reclaim the spotlight every bit a conservative counterpoint to the President.
Their relationship has been complicated.
Trump has been a longtime Romney critic despite offering a 2012 presidential endorsement, and Romney has been outspoken in his dissent over Trump's rhetoric and policies, calling on Republicans to cake Trump'south path to the presidency.
"Here'south what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are every bit worthless as a degree from Trump University," Romney said in a March 2016 speech communication. "He's playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we go is a lousy hat."
Still after Trump was elected, Romney was under consideration for the post of secretary of state. The 2 had a warm and animated conversation at a table at Jean Georges at Trump'due south New York hotel in November 2016 and met at Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump somewhen chose Rex Tillerson instead.
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said Trump and Romney spoke on the telephone following Trump'south trip to Utah terminal month.
But Romney has also continued to criticize the President. After Trump blamed "both sides" for inciting deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, concluding summer, Romney said Trump's remarks "acquired racists to rejoice."
In a statement, Romney praised Hatch'southward service only did not mention anything near a possible Senate run.
I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than twoscore years of service to our swell state and nation," Romney said in a Facebook postal service. "Ann and I wish Senator Orrin Hatch and his loving wife Elaine all the best in their time to come endeavors."
Trump urged Hatch to stay in Washington
During an consequence last month at the Utah Capitol where Trump historic the assistants's determination to shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, Trump chosen Hatch "a true fighter" and said he hoped the Republican would go along to serve "in the Senate for a very long time to come."
The 83-year-erstwhile Hatch set off retirement rumors early terminal year when he said in an interview that he hoped to come across Romney one day accept his place. Just he reversed form and repeatedly insisted to reporters that he "intended" to seek re-election. Last month, Hatch reveled in the spotlight as chairman of the Senate Finance Commission while shepherding a massive revenue enhancement pecker through the Senate -- attention, friends and colleagues said, that made him lean toward running again.
"I've always been a fighter. I was an apprentice boxer in my youth, and I brought that fighting spirit with me to Washington," Hatch said in a video argument. "Only every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves."
White Firm press secretary Sarah Sanders said the President is "very sorry to see Senator Hatch go out." Trump has the "greatest and deepest respect" for Hatch, particularly for the function he played in passing tax reform.
"I don't think we've made a determination in terms of campaigning," Sanders said with a express joy when confronted with who may run for his seat.
If Hatch had opted to stay in the Senate, he could have faced a formidable challenge from a crop of aggressive Utah Republicans. Boyd Matheson, the former chief of staff to Sen. Mike Lee, seriously considered a bid last fall -- going and then far as to run into with sometime Trump strategists Steve Bannon and David Bossie.
But as it became clear that Romney would likely run if Hatch bowed out, Matheson withdrew from contention -- an acknowledgment that the 2012 Republican presidential nominee is wildly popular in Utah and would have little trouble securing the seat.
Criticism for Hatch at home
While Hatch is revered for his long service to Utahns and hands won re-ballot last cycle after spending $x one thousand thousand, voters are conspicuously restive. Three-quarters of Utahans said it was time for someone else to serve in the Senate, according to a poll late concluding year by the Hinckley Found at the University of Utah.
In December, The Table salt Lake Tribune published a scathing editorial calling on Hatch to pace down -- every bit the paper named him as "The Tribune'southward Utahn of the Year," noting that he has never wielded more clout.
The editorial criticized Hatch for "his utter lack of integrity that rises from his unquenchable thirst for power." The editorial board noted that Hatch promised that 2012 would be his concluding race: "Conspicuously it was a lie."
"It would exist skillful for Utah if Hatch, having finally caught the Great White Whale of tax reform, were to call it a career," the editorial lath wrote. "If he doesn't, the voters should end it for him."
The newspaper pointed out that Hatch, who has referred to himself every bit "a tough old bird," has faced questions well-nigh his age and his health -- acknowledging that his decision on whether to run once more would likely hinge on his own health and the wellness of his wife.
"He has been a senator from Utah longer than three-fifths of the state'south population has been alive," the editorial lath wrote.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/02/politics/orrin-hatch-retires/index.html
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