The race for the GOP senate nomination in Utah should have been a cake walk for Mitt Romney. Instead, he’s going to have to face a primary in June. This just goes to show how diminished Romney’s brand has become.
The Hill reports:
Romney forced into GOP primary for Utah Senate nomination
Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney failed to secure the Utah Republican Party’s nomination for Senate on Saturday, triggering a June primary.
In the final round of voting at the party’s convention, state Rep. Mike Kennedy (R) won 50.88 percent of the vote, with Romney following with 49.12 percent.
There will be a GOP primary for @MittRomney in the Utah Senate race. He just came in second to Mike Kennedy in the second round of delegate voting here at the convention. Romney 49.12% Kennedy 50.88%
— Maeve Reston (@MaeveReston) April 22, 2018
Because neither candidate secured 60 percent, the two will head to a June statewide Republican primary.
Romney and Kennedy are running to succeed retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch (R).
Saturday’s defeat was a surprising turn for Romney, whose national profile far exceeds Kennedy’s and who could count on a strong donor network and the endorsement of prominent Republicans, including Hatch and President Trump.
When he made his bid official, Romney was considered a virtual lock for the GOP nomination and was not expected to face a serious primary challenger.
There’s no guarantee Mitt Romney will pull this off in June. If he doesn’t, hsi political career will probably e over once and for all.
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