Orrin Hatch Biography

Orrin Hatch became a U.S. senator from Utah in 1977 and held the post for more than four decades. He left office in 2019.

Orrin Hatch was born in Pennsylvania and graduated from Brigham Young University (1959, with a B.A in History) and from the University of Pittsburgh Law School (in 1962).

He practiced law in both Pennsylvania and Utah before running for the United States Senate as a Republican from Utah in 1976.

Hatch defeated the three-term incumbent, Frank Moss, and then was re-elected in 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Over time, Hatch became one of the most prominent conservatives in the Senate; among other acts, he was instrumental in getting Clarence Thomas confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991.

Hatch was also one of the most prominent members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) in the public eye.

Orrin Hatch married the former Elaine Hansen in 1957. As of 2018, his official Senate website said that he and Elaine had six children (Brent, Marcia, Scott, Kimberly, Alysa, Jess), 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Hatch announced he would not run again in 2018. Mitt Romney, also a Republican, won the seat in the 2018 election..