welcome
Christian Science Monitor

Christian Science Monitor

US Politics

US Politics

Meet Mitt Romney’s replacement – who could make or break the Trump agenda

Christian Science Monitor
Summary
Nutrition label

75% Informative

Utah Sen. John Curtis is one of a handful of Republicans who could wind up shaping and possibly stalling the agenda of the incoming president.

Like his Senate predecessor, Mitt Romney , he’s been willing at times to break with and criticize President Donald Trump .

But his approach leaves more room for consensus and shows how the Senate GOP has changed.

Curtis has come around to backing some of Mr. Trump 's most controversial cabinet picks.

Mr. Curtis has a reputation for bipartisan bonhomie in Congress .

He says his faith shapes his approach to everything, including politics, and he's not Romney 2.0 .

He's a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often more welcoming of immigrant communities.

Curtis blocks out “deep thinking time” on his calendar a chunk of 90 minutes to two hours , Boyd Matheson says.

Mr. Romney says he believes Mr. Curtis will chart his own course.

But he is confident his successor will follow his own moral compass on key decisions during the Trump administration.