Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens announced he will not seek reelection in March after a lawsuit he filed alongside Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy contesting Utah’s new congressional maps failed. Owens, who served three consecutive terms, said he is ready to focus his attention on the private sector.
Owens, who was elected to Utah’s previous 4th Congressional District in 2020, prevailed over the Democratic incumbent at the time, Ben McAdams, by tight margins. He spoke during an interview hosted by the conservative think tank Sutherland Institute on Oct. 6, 2026, reflecting on his career in public service.
Owens said his focus on helping at-risk children and improving educational opportunities led him to pursue a seat in the U.S. House. He referred to the initiatives he pushed as chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, including efforts to expand school choice offerings at the federal level, as well as bills he sponsored, including the MATCH Act, which creates “Learning and Employment Records,” allowing employers to hire based on verified skills and credentials.
Owens’ school choice proposal to expand K-12 educational options nationwide passed through the 2025 spending package known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” and the MATCH Act passed in committee to be considered by the full House. He said he hopes his work will be part of a legacy of good policies.
Owens said he will finish his term fully committed and fully accountable, with his final political efforts focused on helping his colleagues expand the Republican majority. He also mentioned his commitment to advancing opportunity, advocating for children, and strengthening families will continue in new ways.
Owens expressed his passion for the Learning and Employment Records effort he pushed in Congress and may work on expanding that system. He also sees himself finding solutions for states to “understand” and “work through” school choice. However, he said he will remain in Utah, calling it “home” with six children and 19 grandchildren.
