2024 Election

The Senate Is Losing One Of Its Few Remaining Moderate Republicans

Sen.

Mitt Romney of Utah isn't seeking a second term, and his potential successors are generally more conservative.

By Nathaniel Rakich

Sep. 13

, 2023, at 6:40 PM

In his announcement that he would not seek a second term, Utah Sen.

Mitt Romney stressed the need for a new generation of leadership in the U.S.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

On Wednesday, Utah Sen.

Mitt Romney announced he would not run for reelection in 2024. On the surface, the electoral impact of Romney’s decision is minimal — his seat should stay safely in Republican hands.

But it’s still notable because it represents the departure of one of the few remaining Republican senators who had a moderate voting record and/or vocally opposed former President Donald Trump.

The Senate, of course, was a second (or, really, third) career for Romney.

After a successful career in business during which he co-founded Bain Capital, Romney was elected governor of…