Mitt Romney Says He Is ‘Not Planning’ to Endorse Trump in 2020

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told CNN on Thursday that he is not publicly backing a presidential contender in the 2020 race.

“I’m not planning on endorsing in the presidential race,” Romney, the former 2012 Republican nominee for president, told CNN. “At this stage, I’m not planning on endorsing in the primary or in the general.”

Although there are three Republican challengers looking to primary President Donald Trump — former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), and former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) — many state parties are canceling their primary contests as a way to protect the incumbent.

STATE OF PLAY: Highly watched Hong race remains too close to call as progressives notch key primary wins

Ilhan Omar on track for fifth term as Minnesota voters maintain far-left streak

Trump-backed Mike Lindell falls to Lisa Demuth in Minnesota governor primary

4-year-old dies after suffering electrical shock from clothes dryer inside Kansas home

Trump’s ‘firewall’ against socialism in battleground state punches ticket to election

Pure Evil: 3 Charged in Water, Burning Torture and Murder of Boy, 7 – Multiple Suspects Are Trans

Watch: Rules Confusion Leads to 16-Minute Delay in MLB Game as Red Sox Accidentally Score a Run

Fauci’s Pardon Neutralized? Florida Issues Subpoena, Begins Investigation Into Self-Dealing, Which Fauci’s Pardon Does Not Cover

Watch: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger Drowned Out by Boos and Jeers When She Tries to Speak at Rural Event

Trump looms over blue state primary as progressive gov faces far-left challenge

Darline Graham Nordone, Ralph Norman advance to runoff in Senate race to replace Lindsey Graham

Georgia teacher, father hailed as hero after dying to save girl from Myrtle Beach rip current

Watch: Trump’s NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya Unloads on Fauci Over Texts Showing He Thought One Thing, But Said Another to American Mothers

Zuckerberg Superyacht Accused of Ignoring Vessel’s Call for Help – Alaskan Cruise Captain Comes to the Rescue

Trump directs CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to end Medicaid gender transition funding for minors

South Carolina voted to cancel the event, and Nevada and Arizona may do the same over the next few weeks. Romney, meanwhile, has stated publicly that he prefers “an open primary” so people can make their voices heard.

“I would far prefer having an open primary, caucus, convention process … where people can be heard,” Romney said.

Before he assumed his position as junior senator of Utah, Romney penned a scathing op-ed in the Washington Post ripping Trump’s “character.”

“With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring,” he wrote.