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
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are hunting around for this information, you can help them greatly.
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all important infos. Id like to see extra posts like this .
I just could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information an individual provide for your visitors? Is gonna be again ceaselessly to inspect new posts
Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this web site.
After I initially commented I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service? Kudos!
I am sure this post has touched all the internet viewers, its really really nice article on building up new blog.|
This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Appreciate it!
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
You made some decent points there. I checked on the internet to find out more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article plus the rest of the site is very good.
It’s hard to find well-informed people on this subject, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Aw, this was a very good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to create a very good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
I am very interested when reading your article. Oh yes, I also made an article, please visit.
After checking out a handful of the blog posts on your site, I seriously appreciate your way of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back in the near future. Please check out my website too and let me know what you think.
Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your content? I mean, what you say is usually valuable and all. Nevertheless only imagine if you added some superb graphics or videos to give your articles more, Thanks! Your content material is excellent but with photos and clips, this site could definitely be one of the most beneficial in its field. Good blog!
Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, especially because I was searching for thoughts on this issue last Sunday.
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who was conducting a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this matter here on your website.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your web site.
Appreciating the commitment you put into your website and detailed information you present. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.|
I think what you composed made a bunch of sense. However, what about this? what if you wrote a catchier post title? I am not suggesting your information is not good., but suppose you added a post title that grabbed folk’s attention? I mean BLOG_TITLE is kinda boring. You might glance at Yahoo’s home page and see how they create post headlines to grab viewers to open the links. You might add a related video or a pic or two to grab people excited about what you’ve written. Just my opinion, it would make your posts a little bit more interesting.|
Very good written story. It will be useful to anyone who usess it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.
The only thing I regret is not having found your blog site earlier.
Thanks for each of your labor on this web page. Debby really loves managing internet research and it’s easy to see why. My spouse and i hear all regarding the powerful method you give very helpful items through this web blog and as well as inspire contribution from other people on that concept while our favorite princess is always becoming educated a lot. Enjoy the remaining portion of the new year. You have been performing a good job.
I really like looking through an article that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this subject here on your site.|
Hello would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!