2018 could welcome Senator Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney has been quietly discussing the possibility of running for a Senate bid in 2018, according to six sources close to the matter who spoke with The Atlantic's McKay Coppins.

The details: Romney has reportedly been speaking with Republicans in Utah and Washington, and has made clear that he would run with sitting-Senator Orin Hatch's blessing.

What Hatch has said: "If I could get a really outstanding person to run for my position, I might very well consider [retiring]," he said, adding, "Mitt Romney would be perfect." But once that news caught on in Utah, Hatch said in a statement to The Atlantic that his comments didn't " reflect the reality of the situation."

The Trump effect: Throughout the 2016 election, Romney was a consistent (and high-profile) never-Trumper. "It would be an opportunity for Mitt to represent the Utah style of Republicanism … and present a strong challenge to the president," one senior Republican said to The Atlantic.