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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Latest on Mitt Romney's run for a Utah Senate seat (all times local):
5:45 p.m.
Nearly a dozen Republicans have filed to challenge former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in a Utah Senate race.
Romney and 11 others filed to become candidates to replace retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch before a 5 p.m. deadline Thursday.
Despite the crowded primary and a handful of Democrats, Romney is expected to handily win the race.
He is scheduled to compete in an April party convention and a June primary election to become the GOP nominee.
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2:40 p.m.
Eight Republicans have stepped forward before a Thursday evening filing deadline to challenge former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in a Utah Senate race.
Many of the candidates acknowledge the David-vs-Goliath nature of challenging the famous and popular Romney, but they say someone needs to keep the race to replace Republican Orrin Hatch from becoming a "coronation."
Romney is pushing back against the criticism, saying he's working to earn every vote and emphasizing his ties to Utah, where he's made his home.
He filed papers on Thursday to officially become a candidate.
In addition to a crowded primary, he faces a handful of Democrats and third-party candidates all aiming to take him on.
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