Senate – 9/14/23

Utah:  Sen. Mitt Romney to Retire:  Saying it is “time for a new generation of leaders,” and that he would “be in my mid-eighties if I were to serve another full term,” Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (R) yesterday announced that he will not seek a second term next year. 

Mr. Romney becomes the sixth Senator, four Democrats and now two Republicans, to retire when their respective terms end in January of 2025.  While Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), are all retiring from politics, Indiana’s Mike Braun (R) is running for Governor instead of re-election.

Had he sought another term, Sen. Romney would have faced an active Republican primary challenge.  Since he would not likely have fared well at the conservative-dominated Republican nominating convention, it is probable that the Senator would have been forced to access the ballot via the petition signature route.  Now, we will see a highly competitive GOP primary battle to succeed Mr. Romney in what will be an open seat campaign.
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Wisconsin:  Local Republican Steps Forward:  Trempealeau County Supervisor Stacey Klein (R) announced yesterday that she will enter next year’s statewide US Senate campaign with the hope of unseating two-term incumbent Tammy Baldwin (D).  This race has been very slow to develop, and Ms. Klein now becomes the most politically accomplished individual in the Republican primary.  This, despite her western Wisconsin county serving as home to less than 30,000 individuals.  Unless a more senior opponent soon announces, Sen. Baldwin could coast to a third term in what should be a very competitive political environment come November.