In the majority of Republican political circles, Mitt Romney is known for unflattering things. He is anti-Donald Trump, and he failed twice in 2008 and 2012 to win the presidency himself.

Now, he may be engaged in a battle to save what remains of his political career.

Romney will face a GOP primary challenger in 2012 from Riverton, Utah, Mayor Trent Staggs, who on Tuesday announced his candidacy for Romney’s seat.

“Right now, Washington is broken,” Staggs said in a video announcing his candidacy. “And every time we compromise, it costs us trillions”

He added: “We have more IRS agents than border agents. And while we’re paying $4 a gallon for gas, they’re sending our money unchecked to Ukraine. Now, we’re almost $32 trillion in debt. Enough is enough.”

Staggs then reminded viewers that Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, “moved to Utah and told us what he would fight for” He played a video clip of Romney promising to end illegal immigration, place the United States “on a path to a balanced budget,” and “push back against federal overreach and confirm judges who adhere to the Constitution.”

“The only thing I’ve seen [Romney] fight for are the establishment, wokeness, open borders, impeaching President Trump and putting us even deeper into debt,” Staggs remarked.

Staggs stated in an interview with the Deseret News of Salt Lake City that he consulted with his family before deciding to compete for Romney’s seat. As evidence of his qualifications, he cited his stewardship of the 45,000-person city and Salt Lake City suburb of Riverton.

“And throughout that service, I think I have proven myself as a fighter, somebody who is consistently conservative on all fronts,” he said. “I have consistently been … on the front lines of what I call the front lines of federal or government overreach.”

Romney has not officially proclaimed his intention to seek reelection, but Staggs believes he will.

Romney implored Republicans to move on from Trump earlier this week, but added that he believes the former president will ultimately win the nomination.

“I hope the jury of the American people reaches the same conclusion about Donald Trump. He just is not suited to be president of the United States and to be the person who we hold up to our children and the world as the leader of the free world,” Romney said.

“At some point when the people who work with you, your cabinet secretaries, and juries conclude that you’ve done something severely wrong, it’s time for us to recognize that the great majority of those who’ve worked with him is right and he’s wrong,” he added.

Romney recently stated that he believes Trump will become the party’s nominee once again in 2024.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

In a back-and-forth with reporters in the U.S. Capitol, Romney said: “I think President Trump is by far the most likely to become our nominee. If there’s an alternative to that, it would be only realistic if it narrows down to a two-person race at some point.” CONTINUE READING…