Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson has announced a run for the U.S. Senate to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Mitt Romney.
Wilson launched an exploratory committee in April and revealed his future plans after Romney's announcement that he will not run for reelection.
Utah House speaker joins race to replace Romney https://t.co/VAiKg0brqq pic.twitter.com/0jIZIHpU7d
— The Hill (@thehill) September 27, 2023
“At the end of the day, our country is not on the right path and we all know it. People feel like Utah is on the right path, and I feel like I’ve got a lot and a tremendous amount to offer in terms of being able to go back to Washington, D.C. as a conservative, as a conservative fights and representing Utah’s values back in the U.S. Senate,” Wilson said.
“We’ve got to get off the road of reckless spending, mandates, and growing socialism, which we’re seeing all across this country,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to being more responsible. We need to think about how we can actually reduce the tax burden on the middle class," he added.
I am excited to see everyone tonight! Together we’re going to turn this country around and move forward to a better day. https://t.co/yvAHOtLqAw
— Brad Wilson (@electbradwilson) September 27, 2023
"They would really like to feel like they're being represented to Washington, D.C., not having Washington, D.C. represented to them.," he said, according to Fox News.
"They want someone that's going to be back in Washington, D.C., in the fight, doing the hard work, but reflecting Utah's values of integrity, of respect, of personal responsibility and of the conservative values that we have here in the state of Utah. And I think I fit that mold perfectly," he noted.
Republican Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson is poised to formally announce at a Wednesday night rally he is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Mitt Romney, who recently announced he will not run for reelection.
Read more: https://t.co/UAtyXRGKnM https://t.co/Lwjd6nGqF8
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) September 27, 2023
"Romney announced earlier this month that he won't seek a second term, saying younger people needed to step forward," Newsmax explained.
"In so doing, he threw open a wider door for those seeking to enter the race and led to speculation about whether Utah voters will choose a politically moderate successor similar to him or a farther-right figure such as Utah's other U.S. senator, Mike Lee, a Donald Trump supporter," it continued.
Romney's departure also called for a new generation of leaders, suggesting that both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should allow younger leaders to run for president.
The move also comes as many questions emerge over age-related concerns in the Senate, including Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Wilson's run could also help strengthen Republicans looking to take back power in the Senate in the important 2024 election.
