Sen. Mitt Romney has to decide if he has another fight in him.
The Utah Republican plans to announce soon whether he will seek a second term, after a roller-coaster run in politics that included winning the GOP presidential nomination just over a decade ago. Since then, Romney has become a pariah for some Republicans because of his stubborn rejection of former President Donald Trump, underscoring the party’s shift away from traditional conservatism.
If he runs, Romney could face a wrenching primary contest, and one potential rival has piled up endorsements. He also will need to decide whether he wants another six potentially lonely years on Capitol Hill, where he is an increasingly rare breed of Republican, largely voting the party line but also open to working with Democrats on issues such as infrastructure, same-sex marriage and guns. At 76 years old now, he would be 83 at the end of his next term.
“I’ll make my own decision based upon my assessment of what I would be able to accomplish in the second term,” Romney said in an interview, pointing to deal making as “fun and productive” work. On votes breaking with his party, he said: “Just because I’m alone doesn’t mean I’m wrong…You get to a point in life where it’s not like sitting alone in high school in the cafeteria.”
