Utah governor candidate and ex-GOP chair Thomas Wright, right, shakes hands with Congressman Rob Bishop, left, during a campaign announcement Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Wright is adding a political heavyweight to his run for governor: Congressman Rob Bishop. Wright announced that Bishop will be his lieutenant-governor candidate. Bishop had already said he would not run for a ninth term in the U.S. House. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Former Utah Republican party chair Thomas Wright is adding a political heavyweight to his run for governor by tapping outgoing Congressman Rob Bishop as his lieutenant-governor candidate.
Bishop had already said he would not run for a ninth term in the U.S. House. He had considered running for governor himself before teaming up with Wright instead.
Thursday’s announcement comes as Wright looks to set himself apart in a crowded GOP field that also includes former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman Jr. and current Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox.