SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Wednesday that the election to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart will take place in the fall, speeding up the deadline set by state law to ensure that the seat of the six-term Republican. t will remain vacant for more than a few months.
Stewart informed Cox, also a Republican, that he plans to resign on September 15. Cox issued a proclamation setting the primary election for September 5 and the general election for November 21.
“This schedule will ensure a smooth and efficient transition with minimal disruption to our election process,” the governor said in a statement.
Stewart, a US Air Force veteran and author, was first elected in 2012. He was re-elected in November and announced last week that he planned to resign to help care for his wife, who he said that she was sick While Stewart’s departure will mean one less Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is not expected to affect House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ability to lead a tight Republican majority. The district is reliably Republican, and Stewart defeated a Democratic challenger by more than 30 percentage points in 2022.
The vacancy could spark a frenzy among Republicans in Utah, which was not expected to have an empty congressional seat in next year’s election. Only one Republican candidate, former state Sen. Becky Edwards, has officially announced plans to run for Stewart’s seat.
State officials said last week that, absent legislative intervention, state law required at least 90 days before a special election could be held. It is likely to be reviewed when lawmakers meet for a special legislative session next Wednesday to allocate funds for the election. The accelerated timeline will also affect local races, which will be moved to coincide with the race to represent Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from St. George to downtown Salt Lake City.
“We cannot afford to be without a quarter of our representation for an extended period of time,” House Speaker Brad Wilson said, referring to Utah’s four congressional seats. “The proposed timetable will allow for a seamless transition and only a short period without representation.”
