SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright became the first candidate for Utah governor to name his running mate when he announced Thursday retiring Rep. Rob Bishop is his choice for lieutenant governor.
“This is, in my opinion, the Utah Republican Party dream team,” Wright said, citing Bishop’s influence in Washington, D.C., as well as his background as a former Utah House speaker, high school teacher and advocate for the rural areas of the state.
Bishop, who said last year he would leave Congress at the end of his eighth term representing northern Utah, ruled out his own run for governor Monday and endorsed Wright as a candidate who “brings some fresh experience” and a commitment to conservatism, saying he would consider the No. 2 spot on the ticket.
Wright called Bishop “the candidate I was most afraid of running against” at a campaign event in the University of Utah’s Thomas S. Monson Center on South Temple that also included the unveiling of a new campaign sign featuring both of their names.
He said voters should “know what a Wright administration should look like. I’m on day 14 of my campaign and by putting this out there now, people will know what I intend to do, how I’ll govern, what my style will be. There will be no questions about who my running mate will be.”
He said his pick was not based on “a political strategy. This is about me finding somebody who’s aligned with my values, who understands why I’m doing this and wants to serve for the same reasons. We balance each other out well. For me, this was an easy decision.”
There are already six Republicans running for governor — Wright, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, businessman Jeff Burningham and former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes.
GOP Gov. Gary Herbert has been in office for more than a decade and is not seeking reelection
“I don’t think I was willing to put in, like, the time and effort to be a governor that has to do everything,” Bishop said in an interview. “The kinds of ideas that Thomas has about what he would like to do, which will be time consuming, I’m excited about. I endorsed him first and then he came back afterward and invited me to be part of the administration.”
Bishop said he will bring experience that goes back to his first run for the Utah Legislature at 26, and he is excited about a role that will allow him to go back to Washington to deal with federal issues on behalf of the state as well as dealing with state lawmakers.
“It’s not that I’m going to be the secret power behind the throne. I am fully cognizant that I am in a support situation and that I can add some of those elements to help out,” Bishop said. “It’s not that I’m imposing my will on him. A lot of our concepts are very similar. ... I feel comfortable having that kind of role.”
It is unprecedented, he said, for a gubernatorial candidate to name a running mate this early. The primary election isn’t until June, and all of the Republicans in the race could end up on the ballot, either through gathering voter signatures or winning advancement at the GOP state convention — or both.
“In the past, lieutenant governors were selected to secure a nomination. I think what he is trying to do is say you should be voting for him to secure better government,” Bishop said. “Which is an entirely different way at looking at the selection process, and I also think it probably will spur other people to do it earlier, too.”
Bishop said he would serve out his term in Congress and likely do much of his campaigning electronically rather than in person in Utah.
None of the other gubernatorial campaigns indicated they’re close to naming a lieutenant governor candidate.
Burningham welcomed Bishop to the race and said he’s looking forward to “making my case that now is the time for new leadership in Utah. There is a clear contrast in this race between the lineup of career politicians and myself, a political outsider.”
Cox spokeswoman Heather Barney said the lieutenant governor “will continue to give this decision serious consideration. His selection will not be based on politics, but will be someone who shares his vision for Utah and is willing to work hard for the people of our state.”
Barney also pointed out Cox has received support from more than 50 mayors, county officials and state lawmakers in the 1st Congressional District.