Romney commended his Republican and Democratic colleagues in the U.S. Senate for their camaraderie and efforts.

In his farewell speech to the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Mitt Romney called his time serving as Utah’s senator “an honor” and thanked his fellow senators, both Democrats and Republicans, for their camaraderie.

Romney, 77, stated, “I have been surprised by how much I like the other senators, on both sides of the aisle.”

During his only six-year term in the Senate, Romney was instrumental in negotiating bipartisan legislation and was praised by his peers for his moral character and ability to accomplish goals. Approximately two dozen senators from both parties attended Romney’s speech on Wednesday morning, and a number of them publicly thanked him.

Romney’s “uncompromising honesty, earnest humility, and evident devotion to faith” were commended by Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, according to the report. Democratic Senator Cory Booker referred to him as a “great American patriot.” Additionally, independent Senator Joe Manchin claimed that his friendship with Romney has made him “a better person.”

In response, Romney centered a large portion of his speech on the individuals who have influenced both his professional and personal lives. He asked that the names of his former campaign and Senate office staffers, political advisers, and business associates be added to the Senate record and thanked them individually. He called his wife Ann his “love of my life,” his “indefatigable ally,” and his “most trusted adviser.”

Ann was present, sitting with three of their sons, Ben, Josh, and Matt, in the upper gallery. They were joined by a number of Romney grandchildren. Benches on the chamber floor were occupied by Romney’s Senate staff.

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