Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes will not seek reelection at the end of the year. But he says he won’t be a lame duck, and expects his last session to be his best.
Hughes says it was a difficult decision, but the leader of the State House of Representatives typically serves only two terms. The Draper Republican has served in the Utah House for 16 years-as speaker of the House for four. Hughes didn’t say what his future plans are, but hasn’t ruled out politics altogether.
“I can’t imagine going into some closet and hiding myself," he says. "But what I don’t want to do is start measuring for drapes while I’m on the clock. I have a job to do. I serve as speaker. I am a member of the House of Representatives and I’m going to stay focused on that.”
Hughes is viewed as a potential candidate for Utah governor in the 2020 election. He’s also indicated interest in getting a job in the Trump administration.
Over the past year he’s spearheaded efforts to tackle lawlessness in the Rio Grande neighborhood of Salt Lake City. And this session he’s pressing for legislation to create more affordable housing in the state.
