Rep. Jason Chaffetz shocked the political world last week when he announced he would not run for re-election in 2018. Then, one day later, he said he probably would step down from his seat before his term was up.
We asked our “Political Insiders” who they thought would step up to run for Chaffetz’s seat if he did indeed step down. The list was long and varied, including Republican Damian Kidd and Democrat Kathryn Allen, who have already announced they plan to run for the 3rd District seat in 2018.
Other names that our panel suggested (in no particular order):
- Evan McMullin
- State Sen. Deidre Henderson
- Sen. President Wayne Niederhauser
- Speaker Greg Hughes
- Stan Lockhart
- Rep. Dan McCay
- Sen. Curt Bramble
- Provo Mayor John Curtis
- Chris Herrod
- Morgan Philpot
- Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson
- Josh Romney
- Chia-Chi Teng
- Sen. Jake Anderegg
- Attorney General Sean Reyes
- Rep. Mike McKell
- San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman
- Rep. Brian Greene
- Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams
Selected anonymous comments:
A billion people
Every current elected official in the district and a few yahoo’s as well with no experience but who are just looking for attention.
GOP: #SidelinedDesperado Bramble, #TearDownThemArches Phil Lyman, #ImRelatedToAnApostle soft-spoken white guy, and, of course, several #IHateTheGovernmentTheMostest angry, white, heterosexual, testicle-bearing candidates that frequently use the phrases “I seen it” and “them guys”, and a slim chance of an “also ran” from #DontBeFrightenedOfMyOvariesImAHomemaker Margaret Dayton. Democrats: I’m guessing they’ll stick with the #TooIntellligentForUtahVoters physician, former small business owner, unashamed ovary bearer, Dr. Kathryn Allen.
The number of Republican candidates will exceed 10. Dems will have 3-4 candidates.
I’m not sure who should step-up and run. But I know who shouldn’t. You don’t have room on your server for my list.
Any Republican will win, the qualifications do not matter. This state is gerrymandered to the point that a dog, a Republican dog, would win this seat or another seat in this state.
It’s a free-for-all. Expect several Republican “small wigs” to via for it in a loaded primary. Kathryn Allen with run Democrat. Without Chaffetz, it’s hard to say how well she’ll do now.
Every legislator in the district, half the businessmen and women in the district and at least one gadfly — Evan McMullin
We also asked our panel who they thought was most likely to replace Chaffetz either in 2018 or in a special election if he steps down. Most of our respondents said either Republican Sen. Deidre Henderson, Provo Mayor John Curtis or Speaker Greg Hughes.
