Mitt Romney Refuses To Endorse Fellow Republican
(TheRedWire.com) – In January 2021, Democrats in Georgia won both Senate run-off elections and made Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) the majority leader. Since then, conservatives have had to depend on two unreliable Democrats, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), to help them kill much of President Joe Biden’s radical left-wing agenda. While the two moderates have largely thwarted the far-left, they still voted for the paired down Inflation Reduction Act that some say is a deposit on the Green New Deal. So, depending on a Democrat isn’t a good thing. Still, many GOP Senate members may find the betrayal of one colleague who refuses to back a solid conservative running for re-election far more aggravating.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) doesn’t have a Democratic general election opponent. Yet, he’s running against Independent Evan McMullin, who Democrats endorse. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the junior Senator from Utah, has refused to endorse Lee for re-election. It’s upsetting to some Republicans, who say Romney might jeopardize the GOP’s chances of winning the majority back.
Romney Refuses To Endorse Lee
Senate Republicans are expressing concern that Romney might end up helping Democrats keep the majority in the upper chamber. Some say it’s normal to have different views on policies within the party, but they usually stand united against those challenging Senate incumbents. One Senator anonymously told The Federalist that Republicans try to support each other during election time, and he didn’t understand why Romney was remaining neutral.
Romney also refused to get involved during the Utah primary, stating he was friends with both Lee and McMillan. Some say they understand that perspective in a primary. Now, voters are deciding the fate of the US Senate, and many believe the former governor should support the senior Senator from his own state.
The Washington Post suggested Romney’s position was commendable, but party loyalty was important. The paper said it was one thing to stay out of a primary but another to keep out of a general election and allow voters to believe there is no difference between a GOP nominee and one backed by the party’s political opponents.
Could Romeny Hurt Lee’s Chances of Re-Election?
A new Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found that McMullin is running behind Lee by only two points. It said 16% were uncertain who they would vote for on November 8. The Federalist noted the poll has a history of being wrong. In 2016, ahead of the presidential election, it showed McMullin was behind Donald Trump by only two points. He ultimately lost by 25 points, placing him in third place behind Hillary Clinton.
Still, the poll may create perceptions that McMullin’s campaign to build coalitions among Democrats, independents, and Romney and his supporters is working. If Lee loses the election, it would ruin chairmanships for numerous Senate committees and make it harder for the GOP to fight back against the Biden agenda. The conservative candidate could lose in a two-way race instead of a three-way campaign.
Still, Romney may have caused damage whether Lee wins or not. Some Republicans may feel Romney doesn’t have their back.
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