--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm running for office, for Pete's sake…" description: "\"I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals.\" — Mitt Romney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png" --- # I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have… ![“I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals.” quote by Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png) > “I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals.” [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims that illegal immigration threatens political integrity, using a rhetorical appeal. **In simple terms:** Illegals could affect elections. Key Takeaway Consider policy impacts carefully. Themes politics immigration ethics campaign rhetoric Mood controversial political Type debate persuasive When to use this quote - voter outreach - policy debates - immigration reform discussions Key Concepts national security democratic process Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports this view? - How might policy address concerns without scapegoating? A Different Perspective The claim oversimplifies complex demographic realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running for office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-for-office/) ## Related quotes > [“My dad’s an electrician, for Pete’s sake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-choldenko/my-dad-s-an-electrician-for-pete-s-sake/) [Gennifer Choldenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-choldenko/) > [Running for office is similar to being a trial lawyer in a very long trial. It requires adrenaline and stamina; it requires being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/running-for-office-is-similar-to-being-a-trial-lawyer-in-a-very-long/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [A man running for office puts me in mind of a dog that's lost-he smells everybody he meets, and wags himself all over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-man-running-for-office-puts-me-in-mind-of-a-dog-that-s-lost-he/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [I wasn't very successful at running for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-wasn-t-very-successful-at-running-for-office/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [The reasons I put the uniform on are the same reasons I'm running for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-hegar/the-reasons-i-put-the-uniform-on-are-the-same-reasons-i-m-running-for/) [MJ Hegar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-hegar/) > [I thought of running for office when I was in law school, but I wanted to work on human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-thought-of-running-for-office-when-i-was-in-law-school-but-i-wanted/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [When I first ran for office in 1980, there weren't that many women running for office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/when-i-first-ran-for-office-in-1980-there-weren-t-that-many-women/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [It can be really lonely running for office, especially if you've never done it before and especially when all the normal channels of power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/it-can-be-really-lonely-running-for-office-especially-if-you-ve-never/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [But one of the most enjoyable things for me is that running for office gives you this license to enter the world of somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/but-one-of-the-most-enjoyable-things-for-me-is-that-running-for/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [“He sounds like a politician running for office.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/march-lions/he-sounds-like-a-politician-running-for-office/) [March Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/march-lions/) > [As soon as you know that someone is running for office, it puts a distance between you and that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/as-soon-as-you-know-that-someone-is-running-for-office-it-puts-a/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [I think running a small nonprofit to work on the opioid crisis and bring interesting new businesses to the so-called Rust Belt - all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance-2/i-think-running-a-small-nonprofit-to-work-on-the-opioid-crisis-and/) [J. D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance-2/) > [I'm not a politician. I'm not running for office. I can say what I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-not-running-for-office-i-can-say-what-i-think/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [I have no intention of running for office again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-have-no-intention-of-running-for-office-again/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [It's not just that I'm a woman of color running for office. It's the way that I ran. It's the way that my identity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/it-s-not-just-that-i-m-a-woman-of-color-running-for-office-it-s-the/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) ## More by Mitt Romney > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America's military is second to none in the world. We're blessed with terrific soldiers, and extraordinary technology and intelligence. But the idea of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-s-military-is-second-to-none-in-the-world-we-re-blessed-with/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [And a special thank you to the citizens of Massachusetts: You are paying all the taxes, creating all the jobs, raising all the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/and-a-special-thank-you-to-the-citizens-of-massachusetts-you-are/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I saw the young man over there with eggs Benedict, with hollandaise sauce. And I was going to suggest to you that you serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-saw-the-young-man-over-there-with-eggs-benedict-with-hollandaise/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-ve-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I were to offer advice to any president of the United States, it would be this: do whatever you can do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-were-to-offer-advice-to-any-president-of-the-united-states-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I was too important to go to Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-was-too-important-to-go-to-vietnam/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [America has not dictated to other nations. We have freed other nations from dictators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/america-has-not-dictated-to-other-nations-we-have-freed-other-nations/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The right course is for the Palestinians and the Israelis to sit down at the table together. The Palestinians need to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-right-course-is-for-the-palestinians-and-the-israelis-to-sit-down/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [If I'm President of the United States, when I'm President of the United States, we will stand with Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-i-m-president-of-the-united-states-when-i-m-president-of-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [President Obama instituted the most anti-growth, anti-investment, anti-jobs measures that we have seen in our lifetime. Now he called his agenda ambitious, I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-instituted-the-most-anti-growth-anti-investment-anti/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Explore all 781 Mitt Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More Election quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [It's not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We're going through another election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/it-s-not-clear-in-the-u-s-at-the-moment-either-we-re-going-through/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) Vladimir Franz > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the-title-of-this-essay-is/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) [Browse all 3,344 Election quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitt Romney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i-can-t-have-illegals/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Election" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i-can-t-have-illegals/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/mitt-romney-268_election_i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i_1778513.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm running for office, for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals.” — Mitt Romney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mitt Romney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm running for office, for Pete's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i-can-t-have-illegals/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-running-for-office-for-pete-s-sake-i-can-t-have-illegals/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```