On Wednesday, Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney made an announcement that he will not seek re-election to the Senate.

He called for the emergence of a “new generation of leaders” while expressing criticism for both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

In a video message, Romney highlighted several pressing issues, including the mounting national debt and the climate crisis, CNN reported.

He asserted that “neither President Biden nor former President Trump are guiding their respective parties to effectively address these challenges.”

Romney’s decision marks the exit of a unique voice from the Senate, as he has been a lawmaker unafraid to challenge his own party.

The 2012 GOP presidential nominee has consistently stood out as one of the few Republicans willing to openly critique Trump.

In 2020, during Trump’s first impeachment trial in the Senate, Romney notably found the former president guilty of abuse of power, becoming the first senator in U.S. history to vote for the removal of a president from the same party from office.

In a time when the age of prominent politicians from both sides of the political spectrum has faced growing scrutiny, Romney underscored the necessity for a fresh generation of leadership to step forward.

Written by staff