Jason Chaffetz is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Utah, which includes the Salt Lake City, Provo and Orem regions. A Republican, Chaffetz was affiliated with the party's moderate wing before taking on increasingly controversial and far-right stances as his career went on.
Chaffetz resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 and was succeeded in his seat by Republican Provo Mayor John Curtis. More recently, Chaffetz has been working as a cable television personality.
Considering trying for a return to elected office
Utah is scheduled to vote on one of its United States Senate seats in 2024. The seat's current occupant is centrist Republican Mitt Romney. Romney has chosen not to run for re-election, even though polling has indicated that he would very likely win.
Jason Chaffetz is among those who've taken an interest in the open race. He's not alone, several candidates have already entered the Republican primary. Chaffetz is keeping his options on the table for that race, saying that he hasn't "closed the door on it." But a different office seems to be having a stronger draw for him. "In Utah, [the Governorship] is where you can really, truly make a difference in making sure that we keep the quality of life an all the major issues that are facing our state in the coming decades," he claims.
Chaffetz has indicated that he would prefer to run for Governor of Utah. But that probably wouldn't be in 2024, which is also when Utah's next gubernatorial election is slated for.
The main obstacle for Chaffetz is probably the state's current moderate Republican and very popular Governor Spencer Cox. Cox is running for another term and Chaffetz has stated that "challenging Governor Cox is not in my plans."
But he is openly looking ahead to 2028. In theory, Cox would be eligible to run in that year as well. Whether or not that happens, in the meantime, Chaffetz seems to be waiting to see if an opportunity opens up.
Was a top aide to a Utah Governor
In 2004, Jason Chaffetz was the campaign manager for Jon Huntsman Jr., the Republican gubernatorial nominee in Utah. Huntsman had previously been an official in three different U.S. Presidential administrations, both Republican and Democratic.
After Huntsman won the race, he hired Chaffetz as his chief of staff. The Governor later appointed him as a trustee of what is now Utah Valley University.
In 2008, Chaffetz was nominated for the U.S. House of Representatives, prevailing over a longtime incumbent U.S. Representative in the Republican primary process in an upset. Chaffetz went on to win the general election. He was elected another four times afterward.
Chaffetz became the Chairman of what was then the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2015. He'd previously chaired what was at the time its Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations.
Was a football player
Jason Chaffetz is a native of Los Gatos, California; near San Jose. His father was a co-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs professional soccer team. The younger Chaffetz graduated from high school in the Denver, Colorado region. More specifically, Granby. He would receive an athletic scholarship to continue his studies.
Chaffetz was an NCAA Division I football player. At one point helping his team win a conference championship. Before going into politics, he worked for Nu Skin.
In 1991, Chaffetz married Julie Johnson. They have three children.
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