Many conservatives did not shed a tear at the news Romney has decided not to seek re-election in 2024, including Reagan administration official Gary Bauer.
“I was glad to hear the news,” Bauer tells AFN. “The odds that a strong populist conservative will be elected in the state of Utah, to take the seat that Romney currently holds, there's a very good chance of that."
Romney, 76, said last week he would not seek re-election after serving one term. In his announcement, the junior senator said there needs to be a “new generation of leaders” in the U.S. Senate, where the average age of its 100 members is 64.
In reality, primary challengers were lining up to challenge Romney next year, Politico reported, including House Speaker Brad Wilson and Trent Staggs, a city mayor. Wilson has raised $2.2 million over the summer for his campaign.
Bauer says Romney is an enemy of conservatives and he symbolized the Republicans in power who despise them.
“So, no, I'm not shedding a tear that Mitt Romney has decided to move on,” he says.
