Sen. Mike Lee: ‘Enough Room in the Republican Tent’ for Both Romney and Me
Even if Republican lawmakers come to different conclusions with their votes, “there is enough room in the Republican tent,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) says. Lee called on “more work” to be done in the GOP to “chart the…
Even if Republican lawmakers come to different conclusions with their votes, “there is enough room in the Republican tent,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) says.
Lee called on “more work” to be done in the GOP to “chart the proper course for our party” in a statement on Friday.
While noting Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and he “usually vote together” with “a majority of Senate Republicans,” the two lawmakers voted differently on Feb. 13.
Lee voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on the charge of inciting an insurrection while Romney voted to convict Trump.
He recalled the experience to “cast a vote contrary to those cast by most (or even all) of our GOP colleagues,” saying, “It can be liberating. It can be terrifying. It is often both.”
Lee continued:
“In any event, the fact that Senator Romney and I sometimes disagree (either with each other or with most Senate Republicans, or both) is not itself cause for alarm. To the contrary, it shows that neither one of us blindly defers to anyone. He and I have adopted this approach not just because it works for us specifically (as two senators representing the same state), but also because it helps advance what unites us.”
“While Senator Romney and I sometimes reach different conclusions, there is enough room in the Republican tent for both of us — just as there is room enough for all Republicans in a general election, regardless of how they voted in the primary,” Lee added.