Rep. Chris Stewart could step down as early as Wednesday morning due to his wife’s continuing health problems.
of Salt Lake Tribuneciting multiple sources, reported on Tuesday that Stewart, 62, a Republican of Utah, is leaving Congress to care for his wife, Evie.
Stewart’s office did not respond to the Post’s request for comment, and it was not immediately clear what health problems his wife was having.
Stewart won his sixth term in November after defeating Democratic challenger Nick Mitchell by more than 30 points.
A member of the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees, Mr. Stewart represents a secure Republican constituency that covers much of the rural southern and western Beehive State.
His resignation will temporarily reduce the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, which currently consists of 222 Republicans and 213 Democrats.
Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox plans to set dates for a special primary and a general election to replace the outgoing legislator within a week of Stewart’s resignation.
Stewart is believed to be considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2024 for the seat currently occupied by centrist Utah Senator Mitt Romney, according to the Tribune.
Stewart will be the second Utah legislator to resign midterm in six years.
In June 2017, former Congressman Jason Chafetz abruptly resigned from Congress to become a contributor for Fox News.
“There is no one better than Chris Stewart,” Chaffetz told the Tribune on Tuesday.
“He serves with integrity and patriotism.”
