Romney says he has encouraged Booker, Warner to challenge Biden

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he encouraged Democratic Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.) and Mark Warner (Va.) to challenge President Biden for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination.

Deseret News reported on Romney’s remarks at the E2 Summit in Park City, Utah, this week. The former GOP presidential candidate said Booker and Warner were not receptive and that Democrats wanted a more progressive heir to Biden, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Romney also invited four GOP candidates for 2024 to his donor summit: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Vice President Mike Pence.

During his conversation with former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Romney said he’d be happy with any of the four candidates winning the nomination over former President Trump.

Booker, who became a senator in 2013, ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 among a crowded field of candidates, including Biden. He announced in January 2020 that he was suspending his campaign, and he eventually endorsed Biden for the nomination.

Warner was sworn into the Senate in 2009 after shutting down speculation that he would run for president in 2008. He previously served as the governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006. 

The Hill has reached out to the offices of Romney, Booker and Warner for comment. 

The only current Democratic challenger to Biden is author Marianne Williamson, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday he is now running as an independent.

Romney is not the only lawmaker to encourage others to run against Biden in the primary. Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — who has sparked some speculation of his own for 2024 — said that an open Democratic primary would make Biden a “stronger candidate.”

Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) has not yet ruled out a primary challenge to Biden for next year, arguing the party needs a competitive primary.

Earlier this month, Phillips stepped down from his Democratic leadership role, fueling speculation that he could make a late entry into the race.