Heavily Republican Utah wins 4th House seat

SALT LAKE CITY — Now that Utah is officially getting a fourth seat in the U.S. House, there's no stopping the speculation surrounding the race.

The boundaries of the new district reapportioned to the state Tuesday as a result of the 2010 Census won't be set by the GOP-controlled Legislature until next fall.

Even so, possible candidates are already expressing interest — and offering suggestions for carving out the new Congressional district.

"I am seriously considering it," Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said. "I have gotten a tremendous amount of pressure from tea party leaders in the state of Utah asking me to run."

Wimmer, one of the Legislature's leading conservatives, said they've been urging him to run for months because of his record of supporting a constitutionally limited government.

"I would say it would be very difficult for another candidate to come into the race and run to the right of me, whoever that candidate would be," Wimmer said.

He said he wants to see the four districts divided so that each includes a portion of the state's population center in Salt Lake County as well as rural areas of the state.

But another potential candidate, outgoing House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said the new seat should represent southern Utah.

"I think they deserve the opportunity to be heard," he said, noting the area represents the largest population base in Utah outside of the Wasatch Front.

Clark said it's too soon to say whether he'll run. He had long been considered a likely candidate for a fourth seat, but then lost the speakership last month to Speaker-elect Becky Lockhart, R-Provo.

Lockhart's powerful new role has her being touted as a possible candidate, along with a fellow female Utah County lawmaker, Sen. Margaret Dayton of Orem, head of the Senate rules committee.

Another name on the list is Morgan Philpot, who narrowly lost this year's 2nd District race to Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. Philpot said he is "definitely" interested in making another run for Congress but is waiting to see how the boundaries will be re-drawn before deciding which district.

"I really don't know how they're going to draw the lines," Philpot said, suggesting the 2nd District be kept as intact as possible. "I'd love to be able to serve as a congressman to those people."