Orrin Hatch, Utah Senator, to Retire, Opening Path for Mitt Romney
And the president used a speech in Salt Lake City to say
that he hoped Mr. Hatch would “continue to serve your state and your country in the Senate for a very long time to come.”
The senator returned the favor at the White House when Mr. Trump signed the tax measure, calling him “one heck of a leader.”
“We are going to make this the greatest presidency we have seen, not only in generations, but maybe ever,” Mr. Hatch said.
”As Chairman of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees
and as the longest-serving Republican Senator in U. S. history, Senator Hatch has represented the interests of Utah with distinction and honor,” he said.
Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, the longest-serving Senate Republican, announced on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the year, rebuffing the pleas of President Trump to seek an eighth term
and paving the way for Mitt Romney, a critic of Mr. Trump’s, to run for the seat.
Mr. Zwick did not confirm Mr. Romney would enter the race,
but said “of all the people who can run, Mitt will represent and honor the legacy of Senator Hatch more than anybody.”
As for fidelity to Mr. Trump, Mr. Zwick was more restrained.
“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.
