This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee and one of the leading critics of Donald Trump, responded to the election results early Wednesday by urging the president-elect to keep the divisive nation intact.
Taking to Twitter, Romney wrote: "Best wishes for our duly elected president: May his victory speech be his guide and preserving the Republic his aim."
He added: "Best wishes also for the GOP victors in the House, Senate & statehouses: may you govern with the high seriousness befitting our great nation."
Romney campaigned on behalf of Republicans, including Sen. John McCain in Arizona, but he refused to back Trump, who claimed an unexpected victory by winning states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Romney hasn't said how he voted for president.
In March, Romney delivered a speech at the University of Utah in which he argued Trump didn't have the temperament to be president, was a "fraud" and his policies would lead to a recession.
Romney, who now lives in Utah, gave voice to the concerns of some Utah conservatives, who viewed Trump skeptically throughout the race. Still, Trump won Utah with 46.8 percent of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Democrat Hillary Clinton claimed 27.8 percent in Utah and independent conservative Evan McMullin got 20.4 percent.