Utah Rep. Chris Stewart Expected to Resign from Congress

The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that Utah Rep. Chris Stewart (R) plans to resign from Congress in the near future, possibly this week. The departure is expected to be for personal reasons, reportedly to address family health issues. 

Stewart is in his 6th term representing Utah's 2nd congressional district, which covers much of the western and southern part of the state. Like all four of the state's safely Republican districts after 2021 redistricting, it also includes a portion of the Salt Lake City area.

Stewart was reelected by a 26% margin in 2022.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will call a special election to fill the seat if Stewart leaves. 

Republicans currently hold a narrow 222-213 edge in the U.S. House. On its own, a Stewart resignation would obviously shrink that. However, the timing looks like it will closely coincide with the departure of Rhode Island Democratic Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01), who previously announced he would leave Congress as of June 1.