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Rep. Dave Clark, a one-term speaker of the Utah House, will resign from the Legislature to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
Clark made the announcement late Thursday night at a meeting of Washington County Republicans, said county party chairman Willie Billings. Clark had not been shy about his interest in the congressional seat for months.
The current incumbent, Matheson, has not said if he will run for re-election in the 2nd District. The state's lone Democrat in Congress is also exploring a bid for governor or a run in the newly drawn 4th Congressional District.
During his time in the Legislature, Clark is best known for his work on health care issues, helping to craft Utah's Health Insurance Exchange and chairing the Health Reform Task Force while serving as speaker.
The five-term Republican from Santa Clara lost his bid for re-election as speaker last January by a single vote to Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, in a race that has left some rifts among House Republicans.
Clark spearheaded a package of legislative ethics reform bills but was criticized for his handling of a scandal that led to the resignation of House Majority Leader Kevin Garn.
Before being elected speaker, Clark served as House Majority Leader. He is the Southern Utah Regional President for Zions Bank.
"He has a track record and is very well known in southern Utah and served in the state Legislature enough years that he's certainly well-known. I think he holds a lot of weight and has a lot of popularity," Billings said, although as the party officer pointed out, he is neutral in the race.
Clark becomes the first state lawmaker to give up a House seat to run for Congress, a move prompted in part because of a ban on campaign fundraising during the 45-day legislative session between late January and mid-March.
Billings said Clark's resignation will take effect at the end of December and the party will hold a special election to replace him for the upcoming legislative session.
University of Utah political science professor Matthew Burbank said Clark should be a strong candidate in a crowded field.
"Obviously he knows Utah politics well. He's got a number of strong connections in the Republican Party and with state legislators," Burbank said. "One of the things he'll try to play up is the southern Utah component, that it's something that is needing representation in Congress."
Being from southern Utah gives him an advantage in wooing delegates in that part of the state and allows him to distinguish himself from other candidates, Burbank said.
Clark joins a growing list of candidates running in the 2nd District that includes conservative activist Cherilyn Eagar, author and former Air Force pilot Chris Stewart, former Air Force official Chuck Williams, businessman Howard Wallack, and Navy and commercial pilot John Willoughby. Former NFL player Jason Buck is also exploring a bid in the 2nd District but has said he may run in the 4th District, as well.