(USNewsBreak.com) – Mitt Romney was once one of the most popular Republicans in the party, but when he turned against former President Donald Trump, he became persona non grata. In September 2023, Romney announced that he would not be running for reelection and was stepping aside for a younger generation to step up in his place. Since then, GOP candidates have continued to gather in anticipation of the primary, battling it out to see who might gain his seat, and now, more candidates are vying for it.
Who Is Running for Romney’s Seat?
Last fall, after Romney made the announcement, US Representative John Curtis (R-UT) said he had no intention of running for the seat. However, the lawmaker, first elected to Congress in a 2017 special election, has since changed his tune, according to an interview with KSLTV. He said he had an “aha moment” where he realized he could take the work he’s doing in the Lower Chamber and put it in front of a “bigger platform and accomplish more.”
Curtis would be going up against a slew of other Republicans, including Brad Wilson, the former Utah House Speaker, who announced he was running for the seat last September. Wilson’s campaign immediately went on the offensive after Curtis’ announcement, saying, “Utahns from every corner of the state are rallying behind Wilson,” as he “does things the Utah way, not the Washington way.”
At least two people have indicated they plan to run to fill Curtis’ seat: Stuart Paey and State Senator Mike Kennedy (R-UT).
Other Candidates
Also on Tuesday, Brent Orrin Hatch, son of former Senator Orrin Hatch, who previously held Romney’s seat, announced his intent to run. According to KSL.com, Hatch has not previously held an elected office but does have experience in Washington, having worked as associate counsel to President George H.W. Bush. Hatch fully acknowledged that he is “not a professional politician” but noted that he has “an insider’s knowledge of the highest levels of government.” His talking points include inflation, the federal budget, and border security.
Hatch is much like his father in that he’s a staunch conservative but has personal relationships with people on both sides of the aisle that will likely come in handy when it comes time to enact bipartisan legislation.
Other candidates vying for the seat include Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, Roosevelt Mayor Rod Bird Jr, Carolyn Phippen, Josh Randall, Clay White, and Ty Jensen. It’s looking to be a very populated race, and those who want to run must file the paperwork by January 8 at 5 p.m.
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