Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) announced Wednesday that he plans to retire from the House of Representatives due to a health issue afflicting his wife.

“It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve the good people of Utah in Congress,” Stewart said in a statement.

“My wife and I have made so many dear friends and memories throughout our journey. 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 explained that he needed to step away from Washington D.C. and take care of his family.

“But my wife’s health concerns have made it necessary that I retire from Congress after an orderly transition can be ensured,” he said.

“My family and I have been very blessed by this experience. Thank you to all those who have supported and sacrificed to help us. The fight goes on. God bless all of you, and God bless our nation.” 

Stewart’s statement did not specify when his last day in the House would be, and it was not immediately clear what health issue Evie Stewart, the congressman’s wife of 41 years, is battling.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News that Stewart, 62, informed him of his decision to step down on Tuesday.

“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. “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.”

Stewart’s retirement would temporarily reduce the GOP’s already razor-thin majority in the House, which is currently composed of 222 Republicans and 213 Democrats. 

Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox will have a week from Stewart’s resignation to set the dates for a special primary and general election to replace the departing lawmaker. 

By law, the primary special election must be held more than 90 days after the day on which the governor issues the proclamation announcing the election, and then the general special election has to be more than 90 days after the primary special election.

Stewart’s seat in the Beehive State’s reliably red 2nd congressional district –  which covers much of Utah’s rural south and west –  is not considered to be at risk of flipping after the six-term congressman’s departure. 

A member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, Stewart was re-elected this past November after defeating Democratic challenger Nick Mitchell by more than 25 percentage points.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Tuesday that Stewart could step down as soon as this week.