Farewell, Mitt Romney. The Republican senator, who ran for president in 2012, has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2024. In a video posted on X, the 76 year-old said: “At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-eighties. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders.” He criticised both Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s positions on national debt, climate change and how to deal with Russia and China, telling reporters later it would be a “great thing” if both men would make way for younger candidates in the next election. Romney was the only member of his party to twice vote to convict Trump in impeachment trials. His decision not to run again – he will serve out the duration of his term, which ends in January 2025 – will also lead to more debate about Washington’s ageing leaders, including Biden and 81 year-old Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate who has appeared to freeze twice while speaking to reporters. A recent CBS News/YouGov survey found 77 per cent of Americans think there should be a maximum age limit for elected officials.
Read more: The Atlantic’s book excerpt from a forthcoming Romney biography.
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