Mitt Romney is actively discussing a U.S. Senate run in 2018, according to a report Thursday.
He has been involved in a number of talks with high-level Republicans in Utah and Washington state about a campaign to replace Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Atlantic reported on Thursday, citing six unnamed sources familiar with the situation.
Romney has reportedly indicated he would not make the bid without Hatch’s blessing, though Hatch already said he would be open to step aside and not run for re-election in 2018 if a candidate like Romney were to run for his position in his stead.
In an interview with National Journal in March, the Republican senator who has been in office since 1976 said he “might very well consider” not campaigning for another term if an “outstanding person” were to run for his position.
Asked if he had any people in mind, Hatch replied: “Well, Mitt Romney would be perfect.” He added that he has reached out to Romney about the idea.
In February, Romney declined to rule out a run for a Senate seat in the future. “I don’t have any predictions on what I might do. I’m not going to open a door and I’m not going to close a door. All doors are open,” Romney said in an interview the Deseret News.
Romney served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for the presidency as the Republican nominee in 2012.
