Mitt Romney, former Republican presidential nominee and former governor of Massachusetts, announced Friday that he is running for the Utah Senate seat being vacated by Orrin Hatch.
Romney made the announcement via social media video with the caption “I am running for United States Senate to serve the people of Utah and bring Utah's values to Washington.”
Romney ran for Massachusetts Senate in 1994, but lost to Democrat Ted Kennedy. He was later elected the state’s governor in 2002.
Romney is credited as playing a key role in turning around a scandal-ridden 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, which helped to improve his reputation in that state. His Mormon faith is also likely to improve his favorability there.
Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history announced his retirement in early January, after serving for 42 years.
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