Utah House Majority Leader Brad Wilson tells UtahPolicy.com he is going to run for speaker this fall.
It was generally assumed Wilson, R-Kaysville, would seek the top post with the retirement of Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper.
But Monday Wilson confirmed he’s going to run.
Wilson said he does not know at this time if anyone will run against him, but anticipates someone inside of the large House GOP caucus will.
House Majority Whip Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, told the online political newsletter Monday that he will not run for speaker, but look to move up to majority leader.
“I fully support” Wilson in his run for the top House job, said Gibson, ending any speculation that Gibson would challenge Wilson for speaker.
Meanwhile, it is likely that Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, will run for Senate president with the retirement of Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy.
The current majority leader, Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, has had severe health problems over the last year – and is recovering from a heart/kidney transplant — and likely won’t seek the high post.
Adams’ position, however, is more in question than Wilson’s or Gibson’s.
Five GOP senators are retiring this year. For a small body – just 29 senators and 24 Republicans – that is significant turnover.
Assuming Democrats don’t pick up a seat in the November election, then 13 GOP senators are a majority of the caucus and will decide leadership for the next two years.
With at least five new Republicans, GOP Senate leadership is in flux, at least as of now.
In any case, leaders of both political parties, both houses, will be decided by closed caucus votes soon after the Nov. 6 legislative elections.
Wilson said if successful in his speaker’s race, he won’t come in with any agenda.
He said his job is to seek guidance and cooperation from his GOP caucus members, as well from Democrats and GOP Gov. Gary Herbert – who is not running for re-election in 2020, has very high approval ratings, and could be more aggressive over his last two years politically, should he chose to.
Wilson sponsored HJR18, a constitutional amendment which passed the House and Senate and will be on November’s ballot for citizen approval.
If passed there, it will allow, for the first time in state history, the Legislature to call itself into special session.
Currently, only the governor can call a special session, only he sets the agenda.
Wilson said should it come to pass that lawmakers do want to come into a special session, and the governor declines to call one (he will still have that power under the amendment), then Wilson hopes it can be done with the agreement of most lawmakers and with working closely with the governor, as well.
Wilson said he can’t at this point anticipate lawmakers using their new power to call themselves into a special session – but the state does face considerable challenges with growth and other tough issues.
New legislative leaders will take their posts at the first of the year, with the 2019 Legislature just three weeks away.
