⏰ Tick Tock

Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 77
Days to the start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026) - 154
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 441
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,176

Burgess Owens' 2026 decision

While political observers have been questioning Rep. Burgess Owens' political future—given he'd be 77 by the end of another term. Turns out, the situation has already been resolved, and not very many people were paying attention.

In a remarkably low-key moment, Owens announced his bid for a fourth congressional term during his March "Breakfast of Champions" fundraiser. The declaration came without fanfare – no formal announcement, no press release, just a casual mention to his supporters.

The move effectively freezes out several ambitious Republicans who had been rumored to be positioning themselves to run for a potential open seat in Congress. State Sen. Dan McCay, state Rep. Candice Pierucci, and Utah County Commissioner Amelia Gardner were all said to be eyeing Owens' seat if he stepped down. There have also been rumblings that Riverton Mayor and 2024 U.S. Senate candidate Trent Staggs was also considering a run if Owens stepped away.

Now, these hopefuls will have to wait until at least 2028—assuming Owens doesn't have other surprises in store.

Tuesday morning's headlines

Utah and the West

What Utah Senate staffers told lawmakers to say about Stuart Adams, the law, and a child sex case. [Utah Political Watch]

Why Rep. Blake Moore thinks criticism of "big, beautiful bill" is "overblown." [KSL]

In Africa, Sen. Curtis saw firsthand why China is winning. [Deseret News]

Great Salt Lake, vehicle emissions, "election records" may be in Utah legislature's special session. [Fox 13]

Utah conservatives focus on illegal immigration, note issues in finding comprehensive fix. [KSL]

Utah legislators exploring tweaks to adoption laws criticized as exploitative. [Fox 13]

Canyons School District faces financial hurdles in paying off unfinished $50M tech center. [KUTV]

Nation

President Donald Trump says he will work to get rid of mail-in ballots. The Constitution doesn't give him that power. [Associated Press]

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer says the Justice Department will start sharing records related to Jeffrey Epstein by the end of the week. [Washington Post]

President Trump's approval rating holds at 40%, the lowest level of his second term. [Reuters]

Attorney General Pam Bondi taps Missouri AG Andrew Bailey as an additional deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. [Fox News]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would be "one of the first people hauled up to Congress" if Democrats take back the majority next year. [The Hill]

World

Ending the war in Ukraine will depend on how much President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can trust President Trump. [New York Times]

President Trump was caught on a hot mic Monday telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "make a deal for me." [The Hill]

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