Chris Stewart, a Republican from Utah, officially resigned from Congress on Wednesday.
Stewart announced his resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives in a letter to Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox, effective September 15.
On June 28, 2022, in South Jordan, Utah, Utah Rep. Chris Stewart speaks with supporters at a Utah Republican election night party. (Photo/George Frey, File)
Serving the fine people of Utah in Congress has been one of my greatest honours in life, according to Stewart.
Due to his wife’s sickness, Stewart, a six-term member, declared last month that he would be resigning from Congress.
His retirement would decrease the GOP majority in the House to just four seats and open a seat on the Appropriations and Intelligence committees for Republicans.
According to Utah law, the governor is required to call a special election whenever there is a House vacancy. Republican Governor Spencer Cox will have seven days from the time Stewart formally tenders his resignation to schedule a primary and special election.
Except in cases when the state legislature appropriates funding to organise a different election, the law mandates that those dates coincide with the municipal primary and general elections planned for this year.
Although Stewart’s resignation will leave the U.S. House of Representatives with one fewer Republican, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ability to lead a narrow Republican majority is not anticipated to be impacted.
The district consistently elects Republicans, and in 2022 Stewart won by more than 30 percentage points against a Democratic candidate.
