Article snippet: Former GOP presidential candidate MORE failed to secure the Utah Republican Party's nomination for Senate on Saturday, triggering a June primary. In the final round of voting at the party's convention, state Rep. Mike Kennedy (R) won 50.88 percent of the vote, with Romney following with 49.12 percent. Because neither candidate secured 60 percent, the two will head to a June statewide Republican primary. Romney and Kennedy are running to succeed retiring Sen. MORE (R). When he made his bid official, Romney was considered a virtual lock for the GOP nomination and was not expected to face a serious primary challenger. Kennedy was first elected to the Utah state House in 2012. Romney's Senate bid, in contrast, is only the latest step in a long political career. A former Massachusetts governor, he ran for president in both 2008 and 2012. He failed to secure the nomination his first time, losing to Sen. MORE (R-Ariz.), but won the GOP contest in 2012. He fell to former President Obama in the general election. In 2016, Romney made waves again when he urged Republicans to oppose Trump. He called Trump a "fraud" who lacked the character to be president. After Trump's election there was a brief thaw as the two dined publicly and Romney was floated as a potential secretary of State. But Romney was passed up for the post, which went to MORE. Romney has since criticized the president over a number of issues, including his response to the violence in Charlottesville, Va. Trum... Link to the full article to read more