Becky Edwards announces her intent to run to represent Utah’s 2nd Congressional District
May 31, 2023, 4:19 PM | Updated: Jun 27, 2023, 3:28 pm
(Photo credit: Braden McElreath, KSL TV)
(Photo credit: Braden McElreath, KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — Becky Edwards, former Utah State Representative, said she intends to run for the U.S. House seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah. On Wednesday, Stewart officially announced he will resign from the U.S. House of Representatives due to his wife’s health.
“I intend to run in this race,” Edwards tells KSL NewsRadio. “I’m excited about the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Utah,” she said.
Edwards said that this run is a “natural extension” of her commitment to public service.
“My entire life I’ve looked for opportunities to serve, this is just another one,” she said. “And over and over I took an opportunity [to serve] when it showed up, and [I] walked through that door and said, ‘how can I help?'”
#BREAKING A lot of names have been rumored, @beckyforutah now tells me she intends to run for the soon-to-be vacant Congressional District 2 seat.@beckyforutah says this is a natural extension of her commitment to public service.
Interviews on @kslnewsradio/ @KSL5TV#utpol pic.twitter.com/sdlB2L8exz
— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) May 31, 2023
Edwards said since the announcement from Stewart started circulating yesterday, she’s received a lot of encouragement to run.
“I have received hundreds of phone calls and message from people, really asking me to run,” she said.
Edwards ran for Senate against Mike Lee and Ally Isom in the 2022 Republican Primary, garnering 29.7% of the vote. She is the first soon-to-candidate who’s announced their intention to run. Many other names have been rumored.
State Senator Todd Weiler told KSL NewsRadio Wednesday he’s “definitely considering” it and plans to decide in the next few days.
Edwards said she chose to announce today because of the shortened campaign timeline. She said she plans to visit all the cities and towns in Utah’s 2nd District.
“[I want to] share my commitment to their families, their businesses, their communities…that I will work hard for them in Washington D.C,” she said. “And I need to get on the road.”
More about the resignation:Utah party chairs react to special election, both confident of a win
