Former presidential candidate Romney announces Utah Senate bid
Mitt Romney
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney  a frequent critic of President Donald Trump  announced on Friday he would run for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah  confirming months of speculation about a return to national politics.
“I’ve decided to run for United States Senate because I’ve decided I can help bring Utah’s values and Utah’s lessons to Washington ”  Romney   who is seeking to replace retiring Senator Orrin Hatch  said in a video posted to Twitter.
Much of  Romney ’s video focused on Utah values versus the Washington culture.
FILE PHOTO - Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks after a dinner meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Jean-Georges inside of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York  U.S.  November 29  2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Hatch  83  the most senior Republican in the Senate  said last month he would not seek an eighth term. Trump had urged Hatch to run again in an apparent attempt to head off  Romney .
During the 2016 presidential campaign   Romney  excoriated Trump as a “fraud” who was “playing the American public for suckers.” Trump responded that  Romney  had “choked like a dog” in his race against Obama.
However  after Trump won the presidency in November 2016  he briefly considered whether to pick  Romney  as his secretary of state.
Trump had lobbied Hatch to run for re-election in 2018 in what was viewed as an effort to prevent  Romney  from getting into the Senate. Trump and  Romney  spoke in January after Hatch announced his retirement  a White House official said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan  who had been  Romney ’s vice presidential running mate in 2012  said in a statement on Friday that he was thrilled with  Romney ’s decision to run for Senate.
“ His  campaign has my unwavering support and the people of Utah will be getting an accomplished and decent man when they make  him  their next Senator ” Ryan said.
 Romney  had successful treatment for prostate cancer in 2017  a source close to  him  said in January.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Republican presidential candidate [TGT]  a frequent critic of President Donald Trump  announced on Friday he would run for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah  confirming months of speculation about a return to national politics.
“I’ve decided to run for United States Senate because I’ve decided I can help bring Utah’s values and Utah’s lessons to Washington ”  Romney   who is seeking to replace retiring Senator Orrin Hatch  said in a video posted to Twitter.
Much of  Romney ’s video focused on Utah values versus the Washington culture.
FILE PHOTO - Former Massachusetts Governor [TGT] speaks after a dinner meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Jean-Georges inside of the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York  U.S.  November 29  2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Hatch  83  the most senior Republican in the Senate  said last month he would not seek an eighth term. Trump had urged Hatch to run again in an apparent attempt to head off  Romney .
During the 2016 presidential campaign   Romney  excoriated Trump as a “fraud” who was “playing the American public for suckers.” Trump responded that  Romney  had “choked like a dog” in his race against Obama.
However  after Trump won the presidency in November 2016  he briefly considered whether to pick  Romney  as his secretary of state.
Trump had lobbied Hatch to run for re-election in 2018 in what was viewed as an effort to prevent  Romney  from getting into the Senate. Trump and  Romney  spoke in January after Hatch announced his retirement  a White House official said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan  who had been  Romney ’s vice presidential running mate in 2012  said in a statement on Friday that he was thrilled with  Romney ’s decision to run for Senate.
“ His  campaign has my unwavering support and the people of Utah will be getting an accomplished and decent man when they make  him  their next Senator ” Ryan said.
 Romney  had successful treatment for prostate cancer in 2017  a source close to  him  said in January.