Republican Rep. Chris Stewart planning to resign, supply says

SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, is planning to go away Congress resulting from his spouse’s sickness by the top of this yr, an individual acquainted with the matter informed The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The six-term Utah Republican will announce on Wednesday that he’ll possible depart workplace by the top of the yr, leaving an open Republican seat on the House Appropriations and Intelligence committees. The particular person acquainted with the matter spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly previous to the deliberate announcement.

Under Utah regulation, Gov. Spencer Cox is tasked with calling a particular election to fill a emptiness in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses a lot of western Utah, spanning from the Salt Lake City metro to St. George.

His departure just isn’t anticipated to have an effect on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s skill to steer a decent Republican majority. The district is reliably Republican and Stewart defeated a Democratic challenger by greater than 30 proportion factors in 2022.

Stewart, a U.S. Air Force veteran and creator, was first elected in 2012 and collaborated with Utah’s Elizabeth Smart on a memoir about her kidnapping. The 62-year-old Stewart was raised as a possible nominee for U.S. director of nationwide intelligence throughout former President Donald Trump’s administration.

Last yr, in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Stewart demurred when requested about his future political plans, particularly whether or not he would problem U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney or Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, each moderates.

His resignation would instantly upend Utah’s political panorama forward of subsequent yr’s election, making a uncommon federal opening for bold Republicans.