Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson announced his resignation from the state legislature on Monday as he decides whether to enter the Senate race for Sen. Mitt Romney's (R-UT) seat.
Romney announced last week he would not seek reelection — setting the stage for an already-crowded primary in 2024, with three Republicans having declared their candidacy for the seat. Wilson formed an exploratory committee for a 2024 bid in April, with many conservative lawmakers pushing the now-departing House speaker to run for Senate.
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Wilson's resignation will be effective Nov. 15, ending a 12-year stint in the Utah House since being elected in 2011 and a four-year run as House speaker since being elected in 2019.
"Serving in the Utah House of Representatives and as Speaker of the House has been the honor, privilege, and opportunity of a lifetime — and I don't say that lightly," Wilson said in a statement. "I did not anticipate the lifelong impact of my decision to run for public office nearly 14 years ago."
"I am excited for my next chapter and have full confidence in my peers in the House, Senate, and executive branch to continue making Utah the best place to live, learn, work, and play," Wilson continued.
While Wilson has not announced a campaign for the Senate, he is expected to make a "special announcement" on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. He would enter the race with a hefty war chest after raising over $2 million since launching his exploratory committee on July 11.
If Wilson enters the race, he will face Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, political commentator Tyrone Jensen, and data scientist Gabriel Blanco-Lobo, all Republicans, according to Deseret News.
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Wilson already has key endorsements from top Utah GOP legislators, such as state Senate President Stuart Adams, state Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, and state Senate Majority Whip Ann Millner — giving Wilson a key boost over any primary opponents.
“What my focus is right now is getting myself in as strong of a position as possible so that if, or more likely when, we launch a full campaign this fall, we are ready to go and we are ready to win,” Wilson told the Washington Examiner in August.