News/Commentary

Mitt Romney silence on 2024 plans no factor for potential GOP challengers

September 4, 2023 | | Print Article

Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has yet to declare whether he will be running for reelection in 2024, even as a number of potential rivals are publicly pondering a bid for his seat.

As BizPac Review reported, the 76-year-old lawmaker — considered by many to be the quintessential “Republican In Name Only,” or “RINO” — stated last month that he would decide whether he’d be running again “sometime this fall.”

“Haven’t made a final decision yet,” he said, “but my decision will be based on whether I think I can get things done for the people of Utah.”

“I don’t go to Washington to make noise,” Romney added. “I go to Washington to get things done.”

According to the Washington Examiner, Romney filed a “statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in April, allowing him to fundraise for a potential reelection bid without officially getting in the race.”

“Filings for the second fundraising quarter of this year show that his campaign committee has just under $1.6 million in cash on hand as of late July,” the outlet reports. “The potential candidate raised less than $22,000 from individual donors in the second quarter, according to filings.”

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However, as The Examiner points out, Romney “has a large donor network and a $300 million fortune he’ll be able to tap into if and when he launches his bid for a second Senate term.”

“I’m confident that I would win if I decide to run,” the senator stated in February. “I’ll have the resources, and I believe the people of Utah would be with me.”

Meanwhile, Romney’s nemesis, former President Donald Trump, has been encouraging a number of people to challenge Romney, including Utah state House Speaker Brad Wilson, who, according to The Examiner, “has polled the most competitively against Romney.”

“He also secured the endorsements of nearly 50 state legislators for his Senate bid last month,” the outlet added.

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Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is also eyeing Romney’s seat. As the state’s co-chairman for Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, reports “of Reyes potentially challenging Romney have been circulating for years,” The Examiner states.

Former House Oversight Committee chair and current Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz has even indicated an interest in running, saying he will decide in the fall.

Over on X, Romney’s name is often associated with things conservatives DON’T want to see in 2024.

“There are only 2 candidates who will stop funding Ukraine, Trump and @VivekGRamaswamy,” stated one user. “If you don’t vote for one of these 2, you’re voting for a Mitt Romney type Republican.”

“I used to be a Democrat,” said another. “I won’t vote for them although I would vote for RFK jr over say Mitt Romney.”

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And the words, “DeSantis is a vote for Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney,” are frequently echoed by Trump supporters.

“Happy Saturday to everyone,” wrote one user this past weekend, “except the RINO Mitt Romney.”

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Melissa Fine
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