Romney Bids Farewell to the Senate
In his farewell speech on Wednesday, Senator Mitt Romney called serving Utah in the U.S. Senate “an honor” and thanked both Republican and Democratic colleagues for their friendship. “I have been surprised by how much I like the other senators, on both sides of the aisle,” he said. Romney, 77, completed one six-year term known for bipartisan work and moral leadership.

Praise from Both Sides
Romney received high praise from fellow senators. Mitch McConnell commended his “uncompromising honesty, earnest humility, and evident devotion to faith,” while Cory Booker called him a “great American patriot.” Senator Joe Manchin said his friendship with Romney made him “a better person.” Romney’s wife Ann and several family members attended, as did most of his Senate staff.

Building Bipartisan Bridges
Romney recalled a key moment in 2020 when Senator Lisa Murkowski invited him to a socially distanced dinner to break a legislative deadlock on COVID-19 relief. That led to a bipartisan group—dubbed the “Group of Ten”—that passed major legislation on infrastructure, marriage rights, and gun safety. “What we could never have done alone, we achieved together,” Romney said.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude and Concern
While expressing pride in Utah and gratitude for his time in office, Romney warned of the growing national debt and partisan division. “Our national credit card is nearly maxed out,” he cautioned. He concluded by rejecting division and calling for national unity. “A nation’s character is a reflection of its people as well as its elected officials,” he said. “God will continue to bless America only if the American people deserve his kindness.”

Romney left the Senate to a standing ovation, vowing to remain a “voice of unity and virtue.”