Cowboy Caucus loses a rider or 2

The posse of rural lawmakers better known as the Cowboy Caucus will be at least one rider short next year. Maybe two.

Sen. Bill Wright, a Republican from rural Utah County, is moving his family and dairy operation to southern Utah and out of his Senate district, thereby ending 16 years of service in the Utah Legislature.

And in what is considered by some as a political shocker, Rep. Darin Petersen, R-Nephi, confirmed Thursday that he will challenge Sen. Leonard Blackham, R-Moroni, for the Senate District 24 seat.

The candidate filing deadline isn't until mid-March. And anyone can change his mind before then.

"I guess I could run against (Sen.) Tom Hatch," Wright said, grinning when asked about his political future, referring to his friend and fellow Cowboy Caucus senator from Panguitch. "But I think it is best to go out on my own terms."

Wright's retirement will leave a big hole in the Senate side of the Cowboy Caucus, which has emerged in recent years as a leading political force on Capitol Hill that has championed rural issues and conservative causes using a combination of country wit and shrewd politics.

While Blackham also considers himself a Cowboy Caucus member, he has not been a leader among the statewide, conservative philosophy-givers.

Even urban lawmakers with distant roots in farming and ranching are heard to declare themselves to be proud members of the caucus, which crosses political parties but is uniformly conservative.

The Cowboy Caucus was begun more than a decade ago in the Utah House, where it flexed its muscle on a variety of issues ranging from highway funding for rural Utah to challenges to federal government authority over public lands, even taking political positions on state government growth.

At one time, moderate Republicans in the House formed their own "mainstream" caucus just to fight against the Cowboy Caucus' influence.

In recent years, the Cowboy Caucus' power has shifted to the Senate as several of the most vocal caucus members — including Wright and Hatch — moved from the House to the Senate, and other House members retired.

Peterson said, "I'm in (Senate) race." But he declined to give reasons.

"There are many, but it is too soon to start the campaign, especially during the Legislature." A wise move, since Blackham is the powerful Senate budget chairman and wields considerable fiscal influence.