by Natalia Mittelstadt
Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens announced that he will not seek reelection nor any elected office after serving the rest of his current congressional term.
“I will finish this term fully committed and fully accountable. My final political sprint will be here in Utah and across the country, helping my colleagues expand our Republican majority,” Owens posted on X on Wednesday. “Though this chapter closes, my commitment to advancing opportunity, advocating for our children, and strengthening families will continue in new ways.”
Owens’ retirement helps Utah Republicans avoid a potential primary between two Congress members after a Utah judge implemented a new congressional map that created a Democratic-leaning seat and drew GOP Reps. Mike Kennedy and Celeste Maloy into the same district, POLITICO reported.
Utah’s 4th Congressional District, which Owens has represented since 2021, will remain a solidly Republican seat under the new congressional map.
Owens is the latest House Republican looking to leave the lower chamber this cycle. Since the beginning of 2025, 35 other GOP Congress members have resigned, announced retirements, or launched campaigns seeking other elected positions.
Before his political career, Owens was an NFL player who won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders in 1981.
Other Republicans who have also announced they will not seek reelection this year are Reps. Ryan Zinke and Tony Gonzales.
Zinke cited health reasons for not seeking reelection.
“While my belief in term limits for elected office is a consideration, I have quietly undergone multiple surgeries since I returned to Congress and unfortunately face several more immediately after leaving office. The injuries sustained from a career in Special Operations are not immediately life threatening, but the repair cannot be deferred any longer and recovery will require considerable time with my wife Lola and my family. My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes,” he stated.
Gonzales announced he would not seek reelection after he confirmed having an affair with a former staffer who later committed suicide.
“After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district. Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,” he noted.
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Natalia Mittelstadt is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
Photo “Congressman Burgess Owens” by Congressman Burgess Owens.
