Who expected this?
In his final months as a U.S. senator, Mitt Romney is calling out the Democrats for losing touch with their working-class base and criticizing the far-left wing of the party for pushing these voters away. Speaking to CNN, the outgoing Utah senator pointed to the influence of progressive voices like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who have alienated many traditional Democratic voters, especially union members and working-class families.
Romney, who has often been critical of former President Donald Trump, acknowledged that Trump has successfully reshaped the Republican Party into the true party of the working class. He also noted that the GOP has experienced a shift that could bring about significant changes across both major political parties.
“The Democrats pushed them out,” Romney stated, referring to the working-class voters who have increasingly deserted the party. He cited issues like “defunding the police” and the controversy over biological males competing in women’s sports as key factors driving this exodus. “These things had a lot of people in the working class just flee the Democrat Party,” he added.
Romney’s comments come on the heels of Trump’s historic victory in 2020, where he not only won the presidency but also garnered unprecedented support among minority voters. This shift represents a broader trend of working-class voters moving away from the Democratic Party, which many believe has become increasingly dominated by elites, college professors, and “woke” activists.
Romney also had harsh words for Vice President Kamala Harris, who he said had backtracked on many of the left-wing positions she championed during her 2020 campaign. While Harris attempted to court some moderate Republicans and even praised former Rep. Liz Cheney, the results were clear: Trump’s populist message resonated with voters across the nation, especially in battleground states.
While Romney himself has often clashed with Trump, he recognizes that Trump’s brand of populism now defines the Republican Party. He believes the GOP is likely to continue its course under leaders like JD Vance, who is expected to be a frontrunner in the 2028 presidential race.
Despite his own reservations about Trump, Romney has admitted that the former president’s overwhelming victory gives him a clear mandate. “He won overwhelmingly. He said what he was going to do, and that’s what he’s doing,” Romney said, referring to Trump’s fulfillment of his campaign promises.
Romney, who has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle, also reflected on his legacy. He admitted that, while he may not be remembered as a political trailblazer, he hopes to be remembered as someone who stood firm in his beliefs and put country above party. “I hope my family remembers me as somebody who fought for the things I believed, was not ashamed of my deeply held beliefs, who loved the United States, and did what I thought was right,” he said.
As Romney prepares to retire from the Senate, he leaves behind a party in flux. But one thing is clear: the GOP’s future is tied to the working-class voters who feel increasingly abandoned by the Democrats, and Romney sees no easy path to recovery for the left.