Ouch!
Mitt Romney couldn’t even win his party’s nomination in Utah outright, against a relatively unknown candidate. State Rep. Mike Kennedy won more votes at their party’s state convention.
Now Mitt has to win a June primary, if he wants the nomination.
After this, Mitt winning isn’t so certain now.
How’s that groveling and genuflecting to Trump working out for you, Mitt?
Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney failed to secure the Utah Republican Party's nomination for Senate on Saturday, triggering a June primary.
In the final round of voting at the party's convention, state Rep. Mike Kennedy (R) won 50.88 percent of the vote, with Romney following with 49.12 percent.
Because neither candidate secured 60 percent, the two will head to a June statewide Republican primary.
Romney and Kennedy are running to succeed retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
Saturday's defeat was a surprising turn for Romney, whose national profile far exceeds Kennedy's and who could count on a strong donor network and the endorsement of prominent Republicans, including Hatch and President Trump.
When he made his bid official, Romney was considered a virtual lock for the GOP nomination and was not expected to face a serious primary challenger.
Kennedy was first elected to the Utah state house in 2012.
Romney's Senate bid in contrast is only the latest step in a long political career.