“You’re going to see more of this unvarnished Mitt than the Mitt that seemed so calculated when he was running for president,” said Tom Rath, a GOP strategist in New Hampshire and senior adviser to Romney’s 2012 campaign. 

“He’ll pick his fights carefully, but he won’t be reluctant to speak up when he believes an issue needs to be framed a certain way, or to provide cover to the candidates,” Rath said. “He might step on some toes, but you’ll see him be more aggressive.”

While past presidential losers have tended to fade into the background, Romney went about the business of repairing his political image after his humbling defeat at the hands of President Obama in 2012.

It’s a renaissance that first came to fruition in 2014, when Romney crisscrossed the country in support of Republican candidates. He endorsed early in the primaries and quickly earned a reputation for backing rising stars, such as now-Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who fought through a crowded primary field with Romney’s help.