Sen. Orrin Hatch said he’d be happy to see former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney run for his seat if he decides to retire in 2018.
“He’s a close friend and he’s a supporter by the way,” Hatch, R-Utah, told the Washington Examiner. “But, if I were to hang ’em up, it would please me to no end if he would be willing to jump in, or any member of his family.”
Earlier Thursday, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters he has had “conversations” with Romney about running but would defer to Hatch.
Hatch has been a bit ambiguous about his plans. The eight-term lawmaker who just turned 83 and was first elected to the Senate in 1977, said he plans to run for a ninth term as of now.
“I’ve said that I intend to run again,” Hatch said. “That’s two years away. So we’ll see.”
