Editing Orrin Hatch (section)

== Elections ==
[[File:Ronald Reagan and Orrin Hatch.jpg|thumb|Hatch with President [[Ronald Reagan]]]]
In 1976, in his first run for public office, Hatch was elected to the [[United States Senate]], defeating Democrat [[Frank Moss (politician)|Frank Moss]], a three-term incumbent.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://kutv.com/news/local/timeline-40-years-as-senator-for-orrin-hatch|title=Timeline: 40 years as Senator for Orrin Hatch|first=Jennifer|last=Weaver|date=January 2, 2018|website=KUTV|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501031904/https://kutv.com/news/local/timeline-40-years-as-senator-for-orrin-hatch|url-status=live}}</ref> Hatch criticized Moss's 18-year tenure in the Senate, saying, "What do you call a Senator who's served in office for 18 years? You call him home."<ref>{{cite web |author=Richard C. Young |url=http://www.richardcyoung.com/politics/election-2012-politics/tired-timid-troubling-dump-orrin-hatch/ |title=Time to Vote Dan Liljenquist, and Dump Orrin Hatch |publisher=Richard C Young |date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325075632/http://www.richardcyoung.com/politics/election-2012-politics/tired-timid-troubling-dump-orrin-hatch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hatch ran on the promise of term limits<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.termlimits.com/orrin-hatch-elected-1976-flips-on-term-limits-runs-for-8th-term/|title=Orrin Hatch (Elected 1976) Flips on Term Limits, Runs for 8th Term – U.S. Term Limits|date=March 17, 2017|work=U.S. Term Limits|access-date=December 14, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920033011/https://www.termlimits.com/orrin-hatch-elected-1976-flips-on-term-limits-runs-for-8th-term/|url-status=live}}</ref> and argued that many senators, including Moss, had lost touch with their constituents.<ref name="76th">{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/3/22/20103826/on-orrin-hatch-s-76th-birthday-his-career-in-photos|title=On Orrin Hatch's 76th birthday: his career in photos|date=March 22, 2010|first=Marc|last=Haddock|access-date=May 3, 2022|work=[[Deseret News]]|archive-date=May 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505225026/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700018524/On-Orrin-Hatchs-76th-birthday-his-career-in-photos.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:George H. W. Bush and Orrin Hatch.jpg|thumb|Hatch greeting President [[George H. W. Bush]]]]
In 1982, Hatch won re-election, defeating [[Ted Wilson (mayor)|Ted Wilson]], the [[List of mayors of Salt Lake City|mayor of Salt Lake City]], by 17 points.<ref name="76th"/> He defeated Brian Moss (Frank Moss' son) by 35 points in 1988<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/64839/OWENS-PROPOSES-NAMING-COURTS-BUILDING-AFTER-MOSS.html|title=Owens Proposes Naming Courts Building After Moss|date=September 21, 1989|access-date=April 16, 2012|first=Lee|last=Davidson|work=[[Deseret News]]|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021185249/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/64839/OWENS-PROPOSES-NAMING-COURTS-BUILDING-AFTER-MOSS.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was re-elected in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012.<ref name="auto"/>

[[File:Orrin Hatch 2000.jpg|thumb|Hatch's presidential campaign logo]]
In 2000, [[Orrin Hatch 2000 presidential campaign|Hatch campaigned]] for the Republican Party nomination for president. After finishing last in the [[Iowa caucuses]], Hatch withdrew his candidacy on January 27, 2000, and endorsed the eventual winner [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/27/us/the-2000-campaign-crushed-in-iowa-hatch-abandons-campaign-and-endorses-bush.html|title=The 2000 Campaign; Crushed in Iowa, Hatch Abandons Campaign and Endorses Bush|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=January 27, 2000|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=May 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520125752/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/27/us/the-2000-campaign-crushed-in-iowa-hatch-abandons-campaign-and-endorses-bush.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2012 Senate election ===
{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Utah}}
After the defeat of Utah's Senator [[Bob Bennett (politician)|Bob Bennett]] in 2010, conjecture began as to whether six-term Senator Hatch would retire in 2012. It was also speculated that Congressman [[Jason Chaffetz]] would run against Hatch, though Chaffetz would later decline. In January 2011, Hatch announced his campaign for re-election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/1/20/20168381/sen-orrin-hatch-will-seek-reelection |title=Sen. Orrin Hatch will seek reelection |publisher=[[Deseret News]] |date=January 20, 2011 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-date=February 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220162135/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700102384/Sen-Orrin-Hatch-will-seek-reelection.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, nine other Republicans, including former State Senator [[Dan Liljenquist]] and then-State Legislator [[Christopher Herrod|Chris Herrod]], declared campaigns for U.S. Senator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://utahgop.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/ussenate/ |title=Election Results: U.S. Senate Candidates |publisher=Official blog for the Utah Republican Party |date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425092605/http://utahgop.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/ussenate/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/2012-candidate-filings |title=2012 Candidate Filings |publisher=Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections |date=April 25, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502074924/http://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/2012-candidate-filings |url-status=live }}</ref>

Having elected state delegates in mid-March, both the Democratic and Republican parties held conventions on April 21, with the possibilities to determine their nominees for the November general election. At the Republican convention, Hatch failed to get the 60% vote needed to clinch the Republican nomination, so he faced Liljenquist (the second-place finisher) in the June 26 primary.<ref name=April21ConvDeseret /> Hatch won the primary easily.<ref>{{cite web |author=Dennis Romboy |url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/6/27/20421150/sen-orrin-hatch-easily-wins-primary-election-against-former-state-sen-dan-liljenquist |title=Sen. Orrin Hatch easily wins primary election against former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist |publisher=[[Deseret News]] |date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903185226/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765586210/US-Sen-Orrin-Hatch-wins-Utah-Republican-primary.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was Hatch's first primary competition since his election in 1976. The Democratic convention chose former state senator and [[IBM]] executive [[Scott Howell (U.S. Senate candidate)|Scott Howell]] as the Democratic Party candidate. Hatch defeated Howell, receiving 65.2% of the vote to Howell's 30.2%.<ref name=April21ConvDeseret>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/4/21/20501625/sen-orrin-hatch-forced-into-primary-for-first-time-since-76-faces-dan-liljenquist-in-june |title=Sen. Orrin Hatch forced into primary for first time since '76, faces Dan Liljenquist in June |date=April 21, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |work=[[Deseret News]] |archive-date=May 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512021507/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865554450/Hatch-Liljenquist-locked-into-second-round-of-voting-for-GOP-nomination.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2016 presidential endorsements ===
In the 2016 presidential election, Hatch originally supported former Florida Governor [[Jeb Bush]] and later endorsed Florida Senator [[Marco Rubio]] once Bush ended his campaign. On May 12, 2016, after [[Donald Trump]] became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Hatch endorsed him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hellmann|first1=Jessie|title=Hatch endorses Trump after meeting|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/279726-gop-sen-hatch-endorses-trump/|access-date=October 10, 2016|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022101/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/279726-gop-sen-hatch-endorses-trump|archive-date=2016-10-22|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 27, 2016, after Trump suggested that a federal judge [[Gonzalo P. Curiel]] was biased against Trump because of his Mexican heritage, Hatch said: "From what I know about Trump, he's not a racist but he does make a lot of outrageous statements&nbsp;... I think you can criticize a judge but it ought to be done in a formal way" and said that Trump's statements were not so inappropriate that he would rescind his support.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/orrin-hatch-trump-not-racist|title=Sen. Hatch: Trump Isn't 'Racist,' He Just Says 'Outrageous' Things|date=June 7, 2016|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813143039/http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/orrin-hatch-trump-not-racist|archive-date=2017-08-13|url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2016}} On October 7, 2016, following the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy|Donald Trump ''Access Hollywood'' controversy]], Hatch described Trump's comments as "offensive and disgusting" and said that "[there] is no excuse for such degrading behavior. All women deserve to be treated with respect."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4444721&itype=CMSID|title=Utah Gov. Herbert and Rep. Chaffetz pull Trump endorsements, Huntsman says Trump should drop out after explicit video leaks|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728152942/http://www.sltrib.com/news/4444721-155/after-video-huntsman-says-it-is|archive-date=2017-07-28|url-status=live}}</ref> Hatch maintained his endorsement of Trump's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/news/2016/oct/31/sen-orrin-hatch-reaffirms-support-for-trump-says-he-wont-waste-vote-on-evan-mcmullin/|title=Sen. Orrin Hatch reaffirms support for Trump, says he won't waste vote on Evan McMullin|work=Daily Herald|last=England|first=Katie|date=October 31, 2016|access-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107142206/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/sen-orrin-hatch-reaffirms-support-for-trump-says-he-won/article_6429b90a-0afd-5f97-b029-7ca56223b9b3.html|archive-date=2016-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref>