House GOP stalwart calls it quits ahead of midterms

Another House Republican is fleeing for the exits as the GOP braces for what's expected to be a brutal midterm election.

Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens said in a statement Wednesday he won't seek reelection, ending months of speculation about his political future.

“After prayer, reflection, and many long conversations, I have decided that I will not seek reelection in 2026,” Owens said in a statement to Deseret News. “I will complete this term fully committed to my work in Washington, D.C., and then step away from elected office.”

His announcement comes just days after a judge finalized Utah's controversial congressional map, forcing four Republican incumbents to battle for three remaining districts. Owens' exit clears the deck, allowing fellow Republicans Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy to each claim their own seat without a primary showdown.

The former New York Jets and Oakland Raiders linebacker captured a Super Bowl ring in 1980. He was first elected in 2020 after narrowly toppling Democratic incumbent Ben McAdams. He cruised to easy wins in 2022 and 2024 before redistricting threw his election into chaos.

When elected, he became one of just four Black Republicans in the House.

Blake Moore, the fifth-ranking House GOP leader, has already collected over 4,000 signatures for the newly redrawn 2nd District. Meanwhile, Democrats are circling, eyeing Utah's new Democratic-leaning 1st District as a potential pickup that could help flip the House majority.

As of March 2, more than 50 members of the House — 21 Democrats and 31 Republicans — have announced that they will not seek re-election in the 2026 election cycle.