Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney revealed Wednesday he will not seek reelection to a second term in 2024, citing his age and dissatisfaction with the direction of both political parties.

Mr. Romney’s decision to exit Washington after his first Senate term concludes in January 2025 will cap off a decades-long political career that included being the 2012 GOP presidential nominee.

“I have spent my last 25 years in public service of one kind or another. At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-eighties,” Mr. Romney, 76, said in a video statement. “Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders. They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in.”

The Utah Republican won his 2018 race handily by more than 30 points against his Democratic challenger.

Mr. Romney is former President Donald Trump’s biggest critic among GOP senators, twice voting to impeach the man who now dominates the 2024 Republican presidential primary field.

With a likely Trump-Biden rematch on the horizon, Mr. Romney said neither man is “leading their party to confront” critical challenges like mounting national debt, climate change, Russia and China.

“On the deficits and debt, both men refuse to address entitlements even though they represent two-thirds of federal spending,” Mr. Romney said. “Donald Trump calls global warming a hoax and President Biden offers feel-good solutions that will make no difference to the global climate. On China, President Biden under-invests in the military and President Trump under-invests in our alliances.”

He continued: “Political motivations too often impede the solutions that these challenges demand. The next generation of leaders must take America to the next stage of global leadership.”

• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.