--- title: Mitt Romney Decides Not to Run For President in 2016 description: Three weeks after raising expectations, Romney steps out of the spotlight canonical: https://time.com/3689517/romney-abandons-2016-campaign-for-president/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-30T15:55:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T18:40:21.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Mitt Romney Decides Not to Run For President in 2016 og:description: Three weeks after raising expectations, Romney steps out of the spotlight og:url: https://time.com/3689517/romney-abandons-2016-campaign-for-president/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt79d4e65b8379c75f/69877ccd3c16391b374517fd/mitt-romney-not-running.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Mitt Romney og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Mitt Romney Decides Not to Run For President in 2016 twitter:description: Three weeks after raising expectations, Romney steps out of the spotlight twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt79d4e65b8379c75f/69877ccd3c16391b374517fd/mitt-romney-not-running.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Mitt Romney Abandons 2016 Campaign For President by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Updated: Dec 13, 2023 6:40 PM UTCPublished: Jan 30, 2015 3:55 PM UTC  Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee, gestures before speaking during the Republican National Committee's winter meeting aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Deigo, Calif. on Jan. 16, 2015. Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee, gestures before speaking during the Republican National Committee's winter meeting aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Deigo, Calif. on Jan. 16, 2015.Gregory Bull—AP by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Updated: Dec 13, 2023 6:40 PM UTCPublished: Jan 30, 2015 3:55 PM UTC Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told donors and supporters Friday that he will not run for president, just three weeks after upending the GOP field by suggesting he was seriously considering a third bid for the White House. “After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I’ve decided it is best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee,” Romney told donors, in remarks that were first [published](http://www.hughhewitt.com/romney-statement-not-running-ive-decided-best-give-leaders-party-opportunity-become-next-nominee/) by conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt and confirmed by a Romney aide. Late Thursday, Romney invited donors and supporters to a conference call to announce his plans. “Please join me for an update call tomorrow at 11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PST,” Romney’s political team wrote in an email, signed “All the best, Mitt.” Romney told those on the call that he is confident he could once again win the Republican nomination. But he also acknowledged, “it would have been difficult test and a hard fight.” He added hat he believes that another Republican would best be able to challenge likely Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. ### See the Last Days of Mitt Romney's 2012 Campaign  Nov. 7, 2012\. Ann Romney and Mitt Romney leave the stage of the Boston Convention Center after his concession speech. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 7, 2012\. Romney gives his concession speech to supporters gathered at the Boston Convention Center on election night. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 6, 2012\. Supporters of Mitt Romney look on as they learn the results of the election at the Boston Convention Center. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 5, 2012\. Mitt and Ann Romney deplane at a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 5, 2012\. A bus at a campaign stop in Fairfax, Va. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 5, 2012\. One day before the election, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in Sanford, Fla. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 4, 2012\. Bystanders at a Romney campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 4, 2012\. A news correspondent at a Romney campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 4, 2012\. Audio-video preparation at a venue in Des Moines, Iowa. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 3, 2012\. Secret Service at a Romney campaign in Colorado Springs, Colo. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 3, 2012\. Romney campaigning in Portsmouth, N.H. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 4, 2012\. At a Romney campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Romney campaigns in West Allis, Wis. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Faces in the crowd at a Romney campaign stop in West Allis, Wis. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Listening to Romney speak at an event in Pataskala, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Faces in the crowd at a stop in West Chester, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Faces in the crowd in West Allis, Wis. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Nov. 2, 2012\. Romney's sons (from left) Tagg, Matt, Josh and Craig watch their father in West Chester, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 31, 2012\. Security at a rally in Tampa. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 31, 2012\. An onlooker at a Romney campaign stop in Tampa. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 31, 2012\. Waiting for the candidate to arrive at an event in Tampa, attended by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Senator Rubio and Connie Mack. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 30, 2012\. Romney addressing the crowd in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 30, 2012\. Supplies donated to the Red Cross at a campaign stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 30, 2012\. A journalist covering the campaign stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 30, 2012\. Pausing to use an iPad at a Romney event in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 30, 2012\. Carl Cameron, a Fox News correspondent, at a stop in Kettering, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Romney and Ryan address the crowd in Celina, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. In Findley, Ohio, a wide range of ages came out to hear Romney and Ryan speak. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. A Romney security detail at a Celina, Ohio rally. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Faces in the crowd in Marion, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Faces in the crowd in Marion, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 26, 2012\. Before a Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Romney speaking in Findley, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Faces in the crowd in Findley, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 28, 2012\. Romney speaking in Marion, Ohio, nine days before the Presidential election. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 27, 2012\. Romney supporters in Land O' Lakes, Fla. stretched to high-five Romney as he left the rally. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 27, 2012\. Faces in the crowd during the rally in Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 26, 2012\. Faces in the crowd at the Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Oct. 26, 2012\. Faces in the crowd at the Romney-Ryan rally in Canton, Ohio. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME “I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee,” he said. “In fact, I expect and hope that to be the case.” “You can’t imagine how hard it is for Ann and me to step aside, especially knowing of your support and the support of so many people across the country,” he said. “But we believe it is for the best of the Party and the nation.” Romney, who met privately in Utah last week with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is not expected to endorse a candidate in the already crowded GOP field. On the call Romney said it was “unlikely” he would reconsider his decision to step aside, and freed his donors and supporters to work for other candidates. “Please feel free to sign up on a campaign for a person who you believe may become our best nominee,” Romney said. Many Romney aides and donors had already sought out work with other contenders. Just Thursday, David Kochel, Romney’s Iowa strategist, signed on with Jeb Bush’s campaign. He delivered the prepared statement in an even tone on a four-minute call with supporters and donors, ending his remarks with the words “Bye bye.” An aide said Romney wrote the remarks, in which he thanked supporters for their patriotism, himself. In a statement following the call, Bush praised Romney as a “patriot” and a leader of the GOP. “Though I’m sure today’s decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing America’s promise through upward mobility, encouraging free enterprise and strengthening our national defense,” he said. “Mitt is a patriot and I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party are not over. I look forward to working with him to ensure all Americans have a chance to rise up.” ### Growing Up Romney: Mitt's Early World ![With 'Mitt,' 10, youngest of Romney children, \[George Romney\] inspects house at Bloomfield Hills which he and his wife designed.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf1f077da60f0b2f0/69877a6e0b72e3c5e16dd2ec/150116-mitt-romney-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1440&quality=75&auto=webp) Caption from LIFE. With 'Mitt,' 10, youngest of Romney children, \[George Romney\] inspects house at Bloomfield Hills which he and his wife designed. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney with his son, Mitt, 1958. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney with his son, Mitt, playing with electric trains, 1958. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney with his son, Mitt, on a frosty golf course, 1958. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney with his son, Mitt, on a frosty golf course, 1958. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. From airport to Milwaukee \[auto\] body plant Romney takes catnap in Rambler station wagon built-in bed, with briefcase as pillow. Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. Romney family: Mitt, wife Lenore, son Scott, 16, and daughter Jane, 19, at piano, join together in a hymn. 'The biggest sale I ever made,' Romney said, 'was convincing Lenore to marry me. During our courtship she was offered $50,000 by Paramount to sign a five-year movie contract." Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. On desk George Romney keeps prehistoric animals to remind him of favorite 'big-car' analogy. 'Some dinosaurs had a 70-foot wheelbase and huge fuel consumption. The principal factor in their extinction was the fact that they got so big they were unable to live.' Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George and Lenore Romney, 1962 Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. After Sunday services the Romneys crowd onto a sofa in living room. Son Mitt and married daughters Jane and Lynn are at the rear. From left, grandchildren are Gregory (held by Lenore), Douglas, Susan, Brett and Jody. Another son, Scott, is in England with a mission group. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney and grandchildren, 1962 Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney and grandchildren, 1962 Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. A Detroit Mormon leader of the church in Michigan area, Romney sits behind the pulpit with fellow dignitaries in church in Bloomfield Hills at Sunday services at which he officiates. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  George Romney officiates during a Mormon service, Michigan, 1962. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. At end of a long day on the new state constitution -- and after a quick change to pajamas -- Romney falls asleep on fold-back seat of his car as the chauffeur begins the trip back to Bloomfield Hills. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney on the golf course, 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney and wife Lenore (right), November 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Lenore Romney, wife of Michigan governor George Romney, East Lansing, Mich., 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney (center) and family, November 1963\. Mitt Romney is seated, on the left. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney (left) and family, November 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney at home, 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Mitt Romney places a birthday cake before his mother, Lenore, in November 1963. Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Michigan governor George Romney (seated on couch at right) with family, November 1963\. Mitt Romney is seated at left. 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