Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Orrin Hatch Out, Won't Seek Re-Election

Romney may seek the seat.

1.2.2018

He's been serving in the Senate since January 3, 1977 but Orrin Hatch says he won't seek re-election when his term as the senior Senator form Utah expires later this year.

Hatch's retirement announcement, made via social media on Tuesday, is significant for many reasons, including the fact that it could result in Mitt Romney serving in the Senate. When Hatch was first elected, he defeated a long-time Democrat, Frank Moss, who had held the seat since 1959.

Hatch was instrumental in creating a strong Republican and conservative base in Utah, was a founder of the Federalist Society, and an ally of President Donald Trump when the president was having trouble finding allies.

It was Hatch that was a driving force in the Senate for the major legislative victory of Trump's first year, the tax reform package. As Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Hatch helped author the bill that resulted in the biggest overhaul of the American tax code in decades.

With Hatch retiring, the path is at least partially open for Mitt Romney to try his hand at federal politics once again. The 2012 Republican Presidential nominee has been feuding with President Trump online and been critical of the administration on several fronts while also making it clear that he wants to return to public life. Citing Republican sources, The New York Times reports that Romney, a Mormon leader himself, is interested in running in the heavily Mormon state:

Mr. Romney has told associates he would likely run if Mr. Hatch retires.

“It would be difficult to defeat Mitt Romney if he were running here,” said David Hansen, a longtime Utah Republican strategist and chairman of Mr. Hatch’s political organization.

But Mr. Hatch had privately told Mr. Romney he was not sure he was ready to leave a seat he has held since 1977 and White House officials did all they could to nudge him into another campaign. Last month, Mr. Trump flew with Mr. Hatch on Air Force One to Utah for a day of events that was aimed entirely at lobbying the senator to run again.

In the video announcing his retirement, Hatch alluded to that trip by President Trump:

“When the president visited Utah last month, he said I was a fighter. I’ve always been a fighter. I was an amateur boxer in my youth, and I brought that fighting spirit with me to Washington. But every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves. And for me, that time is soon approaching, Hatch said.

Hatch says after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, he looks forward to spending more time with his family including his wife Elaine.