WASHINGTON — Saying he has enjoyed his work in the Senate "a good deal," Sen. Mitt Romney announced Wednesday that he will not run for reelection next year.
READ: Politicians, colleagues thank Romney for service to Utah, country
Romney, 76, made his decision public through YouTube and a press release before holding a short briefing in the afternoon where he said age was a factor in his choice and "it's time for guys like me to get out of the way" and let younger voters have their say in running the country.
"I have spent my last 25 years in public service of one kind or another. At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-eighties. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders. They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in," he wrote.
In his statement, Romney spoke of critical challenges facing the country, and blamed both President Biden and former President Trump for failing to confront them.
"On the deficits and debt, both men refuse to address entitlements even though they represent two thirds of federal spending. Donald Trump calls global warming a hoax and President Biden offers feel-good solutions that will make no difference to the global climate," Romney wrote.
A long time critic of Trump's and the only Republican to vote to convict the former president during his impeachment trial, the senator's future has been a topic of discussion over recent months as it appeared that Trump would once again be the GOP nominee in next year's general election.
Watch Sen. Romney's statement about his future plans below:
Elected to office by an overwhelming margin in 2018, Romney was booed when he spoke at the Utah Republican Party state convention in 2021 after his vote at the impeachment trial. Delegates narrowly rejected a resolution during the convention to censure Romney for his vote.
While speaking with reporters Wednesday, Romney continued to share his dismay over the Trump faction of the Republican Party that he says only cares about revenge and getting even. Romney said he's part of the wise wing of the party and believes that faction will continue in the future.
Romney added that he doesn't intend to make an endorsement for either Biden or Trump, and had no comment on who should succeed him in the Senate. He did say that he had spoken with Biden about his decision and the president was very kind and generous.
Despite not running for a second term, Romney says he will not stop working immediately.
"I’m not retiring from the fight. I’ll be your United States Senator until January 2025," he said. "I will keep working on these and other issues and I will advance our state’s numerous priorities. I look forward to working with you and with folks across our state and nation in that endeavor."
Romney gained increased prominence in Utah after guiding the highly successful 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City as the organizing committee's president and CEO. Later that same year, he was elected Governor of Massachusetts, serving four years before failed presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
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