Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said on Tuesday he would retire when his current term ends next year, opening the door for a possible political comeback by 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Ending speculation of whether he would seek reelection after more than three decades in office, Hatch, 83, made the announcement in a short video, saying “every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.” President Donald Trump had urged Hatch to run again, a move that would have prevented Romney from potentially filling his seat. Romney issued a statement shortly after Hatch’s announcement, writing on Facebook, “I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than forty years of service to our great state and nation.”
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