With a Democratic wave coming, one of the few allies that Trump has in the Senate, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has announced his retirement.
Hatch said, “Every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves. And for me, that time is soon approaching. That’s why after much prayer and discussion with family and friends, I’ve decided to retire at the end of this term.”
Video of Hatch’s announcement
An announcement from Senator Orrin G. Hatch. #utpol pic.twitter.com/UeItaLjR3j
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— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) January 2, 2018
Utah Republicans have been pressuring the 83-year-old Hatch to retire so that Romney could take his seat.
There has been maneuvering behind the scenes in Utah for months as Hatch has plotted his retirement, and while he was in no danger of losing his seat in deep red Utah, the changing national climate that is swinging toward Democrats surely played a role spoken or not in Hatch’s decision to get out now.
It is possible that Democrats will take back at least the House in November, which means that Hatch will have likely already seen the high point of his power. If Republicans looked more certain of keeping Congress, someone like Hatch might stick around, but in about a year, the Republican agenda will probably grind to a halt, so now looks like a really good time for veteran incumbent Republicans to hit the bricks.
The ship is sinking, and the rats are fleeing, as the writing is on the wall that Trump’s GOP is heading for defeat.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
