WHAT MITT ROMNEY SAW IN THE SENATE.

This article focuses on Mitt Romney's experiences and reflections as a U.S. senator during the Trump era, highlighting his growing disillusionment with the Republican Party and the challenges he faced amid political turmoil. It details Romney's concerns about threats to democracy, including warnings about violence surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, his historic vote to convict Donald Trump in the first impeachment trial, and his critique of fellow Republicans who supported Trump's false claims about the 2020 election. The piece also explores Romney's personal isolation in Washington, his decision not to seek reelection in 2024, and his contemplation of forming a new centrist political party with Senator Joe Manchin to counteract the polarization within the GOP. Throughout, Romney wrestles with the fragility of American democracy and the rise of authoritarian tendencies within his party.