ST. GEORGE — In an interview with Fox 13 in Salt Lake City Monday, Sen. Orrin Hatch announced that he is planning on running for an eighth term in office – with one caveat.
There is one person that would possibly make him reconsider his plans to run, and that person is former Massachusetts governor and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Hatch said.
Read more: While Hatch considers 8th term, others consider running for his seat
Hatch holds the longest term of office in the U.S. Senate, having been elected in 1977. He is currently serving as the Senate’s president pro tempore, chair of the Senate Finance Committee and senior member of the Judiciary Committee.
Several Utah Republicans have expressed an interest in trying to wrest the seat away from Hatch. Those are former 2016 independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, World Trade Center Utah CEO Derek Miller, Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Sutherland Institute President Boyd Matheson.
Democrats who would like to challenge Hatch are Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson and Scott Howell, who ran against Hatch in 2000 and again in 2012.
Hatch is no longer capable of bipartisan efforts Wilson told The Salt Lake Tribune, saying she believes he has lost the ability to find common ground on issues.
“Unfortunately, the Orrin Hatch of late is one of the greatest offenders,” Wilson said. “It’s time for the return of respect and cooperation across party lines.”
Howell said Hatch’s being in office so long has likely caused a sense of fatigue among voters who are now looking for a change.
“We’re not electing a general authority, but we are electing a public servant,” Howell told Utah Policy. “I want to give kudos to Hatch for the good job he’s done, but now is the time to enjoy his family.”
In the video, Hatch talks about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and Syria before confirming his re-election bid.
St. George News Senior Reporter Mori Kessler contributed to this report.
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God on high, hear my prayer, in my need you have kind of been there.
He is old, he’s afraid, let him rest, heaven blessed.
Bring him home! Bring him home! Bring him home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(God, just to clarify, dementia would be fine. Hell, a broken hip would probably be enough, if you don’t want to see him yet, which I totally get. After all the crap he’s pulled I wouldn’t be thrilled to get him back either)
God doesn’t have to see him at all. I’m quite sure Thomas won’t admit him enter through the Pearly Gates.
Amen voice! Truly words of deep commitment and pathos. I share your grief and seek to console your wounded soul. If ever there was a case for term limits ( changing the dirty diaper) Hatch checks all the boxes. May Utah finally gain a shred of wisdom and send this “pro” packin………Send him home!!!!!!!!
You got that right voice of reason. I will NOT vote for hatch.
As we learned in Star Trek Insurrection, you can only stretch a face so tight. Hatch has to be running out of time in that department alone.
Politicians are like diapers: they both need to be changed frequently, and for the same reason.
Hatch stinks! Time for a change. Seniority doesn’t matter nearly enough to justify keeping him around.
It’s official, Hatch will be in the senate until his death. He’s spent half of his very long life as a systemic parasite in our political system. He’ll once again take the nomination and the mormon vote and be a shoe-in. Congrats to u Orrin. voice of reason got a point there–about the only thing will stop him is a stroke or a broken hip.
You’re right Bob. The only way Hatch will leave the Senate floor will be the same way as the guy dragged off the airline flight – kicking and screaming.
Unless the Mormon Church Elders decide that it’s time for Hatch to go. I’m sure all the Utah politicians are jockeying behind-the-scenes with the Church hierarchy, so they can be the individual if/when the Church designates THE replacement.
After the bashing, whining, whimpering, and tantrums of these wannabe politicians, will it make one bit of difference with the outcome? You sad ones won’t determine his future, the public will, and if he wins again you can start your bellyaching all over again.
Mesaman, you’re naive if you don’t think that Hatch is guaranteed reelection if he runs, the same way Diane Feinstein is guaranteed reelection if she runs in California. In both cases, each is the designated candidate of the state’s dominant political entity (LDS Church in Utah, Democrat Party in California).