Utah Republican Rob Bishop retiring from House in 2020

Make sure to let us know what you think... we now have comments turned ON below the article!

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), the longest-serving member of the state’s congressional delegation, recently faced a dilemma — continue to serve in Congress at the behest of his strongest supporters, or keep a promise made in a prior election cycle to eventually step aside and make room for others to serve the state’s voters.

Bishop confirmed on Monday that he would do the latter and not seek re-election for a ninth term in Congress in 2020, effectively retiring from his position while leaving open the possibility of continuing his political career in a different area.

Possible gubernatorial run

Utah’s Deseret News reported that while Bishop has ruled out running for re-election to serve the state’s 1st Congressional District for another term, he has yet to completely foreclose the notion of a possible gubernatorial run or the prospect of serving the state in some other capacity.

Bishop made it clear that there needed to be a compelling reason for him to run for governor, and said, “I am not going to run for governor because I am bored or want a job.”

He said that while he was “thinking about” a gubernatorial run, the former school teacher was also considering other areas, such as education, where he believed he could help make a difference in people’s lives.

True to his word

Bishop told the newspaper that he had struggled with his decision to retire from Congress, given the fact that some supporters had urged him to run for another term, but also wanting to remain true to his word about stepping aside when the time was right.

The congressman promised voters in 2012 that once he had exhausted his ability to serve in a committee leadership position he would retire from Congress. Bishop was named the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee in 2014 — and now serves as the ranking minority party member — and his term will end in 2020.

Bishop recalled having met a particular constituent years ago who told him he had been in Congress “too long” and that he made the promise to eventually step aside after having the chance to serve as a committee leader.

“Do I go back to him and say ‘I conned you once. I am going to ask you for one more term, or even two more terms?'” the congressman said. “I need to stick to my original goal.”

Tireless advocate for the environment, military and states’ rights

Aside from leading the Natural Resources Committee — which exerts considerable oversight pertaining to Utah and its abundant public lands and natural resources — Bishop is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

The congressman has served Utah well on both committees, whether through the designation of critical lands as national parks and protected areas, the maximization of mineral resources wherever possible, or through his work in strengthening the defense industry and military community by fighting against base closures and helping to win lucrative defense contracts for Utah companies.

Bishop, a strong proponent of the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment and the concept of states’ rights generally, was first elected to Congress in 2003 following a 16-year career in the Utah legislature. His announced retirement in 2020 has now opened the door for a slew of Republican challengers who hope to win his seat and succeed him in Washington, D.C.

1,893 Responses

  1. Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  2. You made some good points there. I looked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.

  3. You have made some really good points there. I checked on the net for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.

  4. Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will eventually come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

  5. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast simply because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your internet site.

  6. I do enjoy the way you have presented this specific matter and it does indeed offer us some fodder for thought. Nonetheless, because of everything that I have seen, I really trust when other feed-back pack on that people remain on issue and in no way start upon a tirade regarding some other news du jour. Still, thank you for this excellent piece and whilst I do not concur with this in totality, I respect the standpoint.

  7. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!|

  8. I’ll right away grab your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  9. I’m extremely pleased to discover this page. I need to to thank you for ones time for this wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every bit of it and I have you saved to fav to check out new information in your blog.

  10. Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this page.

  11. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it does not disappoint me just as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly thought you would probably have something interesting to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.

  12. What i don’t understood is actually how you are not actually much more well-liked than you may be now. You are so intelligent. You realize thus significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!

  13. You made some decent points there. I looked on the net for more information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.

  14. I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something too few folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this during my search for something concerning this.

  15. Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.|

  16. After looking over a few of the blog posts on your blog, I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I saved it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please check out my web site too and let me know your opinion.

  17. I’m still learning from you, while I’m improving myself. I certainly enjoy reading all that is posted on your blog.Keep the aarticles coming. I loved it!

  18. When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Cheers!

  19. I’m excited to find this great site. I need to to thank you for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it and I have you book-marked to look at new stuff in your blog.

  20. Pingback: betflik

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Popular