Rep. Burgess Owens announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, stepping away at the end of his third term and reshaping Utah’s congressional map ahead of the midterms.

Owens, a Republican representing Utah’s 4th Congressional District, said his decision followed “prayer, reflection, and many long conversations.” He pledged to complete his current term while preparing to transition out of elected office.

His retirement comes shortly after a judge finalized Utah’s congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, creating one heavily Democratic district and leaving three districts for the state’s remaining Republican incumbents. Owens’ departure clears the way for Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy will choose among the GOP-leaning districts, likely avoiding a contentious incumbent-on-incumbent primary. Neither lawmaker has announced which district they intend to pursue.

First elected in 2020, Owens built his tenure around school choice, border security, and anti-trafficking legislation. He highlighted his sponsorship of education reform efforts that were incorporated into the Working Families Tax Cut Act reconciliation package, calling it one of the most consequential reforms in modern education policy. He is also currently advancing the Preventing Child Trafficking Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at improving coordination among federal agencies to combat exploitation.

Owens praised President Donald Trump in his farewell statement, crediting him with confronting what he described as the spread of Marxist ideology and corruption in government. He framed the Republican governing trifecta in 2024 as giving the nation a renewed opportunity to advance conservative principles centered on faith, family, free markets, and education.

During his time in office, Owens also focused on veterans’ issues, law enforcement support, infrastructure priorities in Utah, development of the state’s Inland Port, and preparations for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

A former NFL player before entering politics, Owens flipped a competitive district in 2020 and solidified Republican control in subsequent elections. He said he intends to remain active in advancing conservative causes outside Congress and will work to help expand the GOP majority in 2026.

Owens is expected to formally conclude his term at the end of the 119th Congress.