Latest news with #GOEO
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah's House to elect new leadership. Here's who's running
SALT LAKE CITY () — Utah's House majority will hold elections for a new House Majority Leader on Tuesday, June 3, and several hopefuls could usher in a completely new leadership team under House Speaker Mike Schultz (R-Hooper). The announcement that Rep. Jefferson Moss (R-Eagle Mountain) will be moving to the executive branch to head the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) leaves a vacancy for the House majority's number two leadership role, Majority Leader. Multiple sources with knowledge of internal communications with the caucus confirm to ABC4 that two members of the current leadership will be vying for it, Reps. Karianne Lisonbee (R-Syracuse) and Casey Snider (R-Logan). Under House rules, anyone currently serving in leadership and running for an open position must resign from their current leadership position. That means that Lisonbee's current position as Majority Whip and Snider's current position as Assistant Whip will also open up. Lt. Gov. Henderson gets more death threats over Primary signature gathering issues — How will they be handled? The following Republican representatives, listed in order alphabetically by last name, are running for the open positions: Karianne Lisonbee (R-Syracuse) Casey Snider (R-Logan) Jeff Burton (R-Spanish Fork) Candice Pierucci (R-Herriman) Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan) Ryan Wilcox (R-North Ogden) Bridger Bolinder (R-Grantsville) Cory Maloy (R-Lehi) Karen Petersen (R-Smithfield) Rex Shipp (R-Parowan) Gov. Cox signs executive order to establish new council focused on Utah's future and 'quality of life' Another possible shift, Rep. Teuscher is currently the powerful House Rules Chair, who helps decide which bills make it out of the rules committee to be heard by the larger body. If he wins the Whip position, he would likely have to give up that role due to the time constraints. However, it's at the Speaker's discretion who he appoints as Rules Chair. 'One of the primary responsibilities of the Whip is to serve as a liaison with the Senate and to help unify and strengthen our caucus,' said Teuscher. 'I believe I bring the right combination of experience, skills, temperament, and relationships to be effective in that role—and to ensure our caucus continues to drive the conversation on the most important issues facing our state and is successful in getting our policy objectives to the finish line.' Teuscher has ushered in some controversial legislation in the past, most recently the ban on collective bargaining, HB267, which currently faces a referendum that will be put before voters to decide whether or not to overturn it after labor groups While the current field of candidates is pretty settled, the source said, representatives do have until Monday morning to declare their intent to run. It's also possible that representatives not included in this list could be nominated by the body during the election for any of the open positions. Utah unveils new housing dashboard in effort to hit 'moonshot' goal of building 35,000 starter homes The vacancy by Rep. Moss is also adding another wrinkle to the elections. His seat has yet to be filled via a special election, decided by the Utah County Republican Party. That means that the House majority will have 60 members voting in the election, not 61, leaving the possibility for a tie. House majority elections require a simple majority vote, and it's unclear exactly what would happen in that case, however, the rules would suggest that voting would continue until there is a majority. Political insiders who spoke with ABC4 about the race say it is unusual for two members of the current leadership to be running against each other. Typically, those already in leadership positions tend to slide into a vacant and more prominent role. Those insiders also say there is pent-up demand to be in leadership, as evidenced by the number of people running. The House majority's elections are not public, but the new leadership team will be announced Tuesday evening after the vote. President Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office send-off Musk slams New York Times after report on alleged drug use GOP plan could raise credit requirements for Pell Grant recipients Musk appears in Oval Office with black eye Utah's House to elect new leadership. Here's who's running Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utah House Majority leader resigns to take new role in Governor's Office
SALT LAKE CITY () — Utah House Majority Leader Rep. Jefferson Moss (R-Saratoga Springs) will be stepping away from the House of Representatives and his role as House Majority Leader at the end of the month. The announcement comes as Gov. Spencer Cox tapped Moss to serve in his office as the Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). He will officially step down from his role in the House on May 30 and begin work in the GOEO on June 2 as an interim until his role can be confirmed by the Utah Senate. Moss's new role will see him oversee statewide efforts to promote business development, innovation, and economic strategy. Moss, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2017 and in Majority Leadership since 2019, said he was incredibly proud of the work he accomplished while representing the Saratoga Springs district. 8 Utah bills going into effect on May 7 you should know about 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of House District 51 and the state of Utah,' said Moss in a statement. 'I look forward to continuing my work in a new capacity, helping lead Utah's economic future.' Throughout his career, Moss has held a variety of positions, including the Utah State Board of Education, the Saratoga Springs City Council and Planning Commission, and leadership positions at Utah Valley University. Aside from serving as the House Majority Leader, Moss also serves as the Associate Commissioner of Innovation, Commercialization and Economic Development for the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) and as the managing director of the Utah Innovation Fund. According to a media release, Moss will continue serving in the USHE in addition to leading GOEO. 'Jefferson Moss brings a rare combination of public service, private sector experience, and a deep understanding of innovation and education,' said Gov. Spencer Cox. 'He's been a driving force behind many of Utah's most forward-thinking initiatives, and I'm confident he'll lead the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity with the same vision, energy, and commitment to our state's future that have defined his career.' In the coming weeks, the House Majority Caucus will hold a special leadership election to elect a new House Majority Leader. Republican delegates in Utah County will also meet to select a new representative to serve District 51. Lindsay Aerts contributed to this report. Utah House Majority leader resigns to take new role in Governor's Office Trump taps Martin for DOJ pardon attorney, 'weaponization' role Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter dies at 85 More older Americans not confident Social Security will be there for them: Survey Sunshine and warm temperatures ring in Mother's Day weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
