Posted on 06/03/2023 5:32:49 AM PDT by Twotone
Republican Rep. Chris Stewart (Utah) announced Wednesday that he will retire from Congress.
The Salt Lake Tribune first reported on Stewart's retirement plans.
In a statement, Stewart said that serving in Congress "has been one of the great honors" of his life but explained his wife's health made his retirement "necessary."
"I can say with pride that I have been an effective leader for my beloved home state, and I’m honored to have played an important role in guiding our nation through some troubled times," Stewart said. "But my wife's health concerns have made it necessary that I retire from Congress after an orderly transition can be ensured."
Stewart did not specify what health problems his wife faces. He is expected to step down officially as early as this week.
The announcement is significant because House Republicans have only a four-seat majority in the House. And if the debt ceiling crisis has proven anything, it's that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cannot assume every member of the Republican conference will support his agenda simply because they have an "R" next to their name.
It's not that Democrats are likely to win his seat — Stewart, in fact, has steamrolled Democratic candidates vying for Utah's 2nd Congressional District for the last decade — but his departure means McCarthy has one less vote to rely on. Now, McCarthy can afford to lose support from only three Republicans to pass any given legislation.
Still, McCarthy praised Stewart and said his decision to step down is evidence that Stewart possesses superior character.
"I talked to Chris yesterday, and you've got to understand why he’s doing this — it’s the character of who he is, it’s because of his wife and taking care of his wife," McCarthy said on Wednesday. "It's the decision everybody should make at that time. He has sacrificed, his family has sacrificed, but at this moment right now his spouse needs him. So he's made that decision. It was not an easy decision for him. But we will continue to hold that seat."
To fill Stewart's seat, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) will have to call a special election. The primary election will then take place at least 90 days after Cox initiates the special election, and the general election will take place at least 90 days after the primary.
But because the state's August primary is less than 90 days away, it might not be until March 2024 that Stewart's seat is ultimately filled, Axios noted.
“Still, McCarthy praised Stewart and said his decision to step down is evidence that Stewart possesses superior character.”
Too many to list that should TAKE THE HINT!
Three more and it’s Jeffery as speaker.
Wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference if it was Jeffery as speaker now would it???
I guess…..seems like conservatives love being in the minority. Don’t have to do much.
“Three more and it’s Jeffery as speaker.”
He’s already speaker.
Sorta true. My only goal for republicans in the house was to stop the worst bills happening had the democrats won the house. Even the debt ceiling wasn’t as bad as it would have been had democrats had the house. Keeping the worst bills at bay is about all we can expect with only one part of congress.
Lol. Nothing burger. No leftist babykiller will win that district. Got you to click though.
They are trying to push Santos out so that makes two.
Haha, so true.
Can’t blame him for retiring. First obligation is to his family.
But it will remain vacant for a year almost.
Joe Scarboro did the same thing. His kid came down with childhood diabetes in the month of June-start of summer. He quit to ‘spend time with the family’. quitting was effective in September when school started up. So much with spending time with the family.
Could DeSantis end up with the same problem at a critical time? Think of our bench.
Does it really matter?… they all wear the same stripes. The American people are the big losers regardless of who holds the office.
True. He’s a bit of a strange bird. Hopefully he will be primaried out his next election. We need him now though for numbers.
I am equally skeptical. The list of politicians who suddenly wake up to the need to spend time with their wife and kids only after assuming office is long. When I hear this explanation I assume that the Ethics Committee was about to open a formal investigation, and resignation takes jurisdiction away from the Ethics Committee. Quitting precipitously is a way of shutting down such matters.
The reference to medical matters is a bit like the nesting of one excuse within another. Due to medical privacy laws - one can live about medical conditions, treatments, prognoses, etc. with impunity.
Until proven otherwise, I assume there is something suspicious in this instance - and I would not put it past the Democrats to have threatened this guy with revelation of an affair, etc. to get him out. Probably not the best district for them to pick up in a special election, but they are relentless in seeking power. Consider Santos gone, it’s just a matter of time. But if others come in, during the remainder of this session of Congress - and they are surprisingly all Republicans in states with Democratic Governors and favorable (to the Democrats) rules on special elections... I told you so.
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