This moderate Republican senator is already eyeing the exits 16 months into his term

Just 16 months into his tenure in the Senate, John Curtis is contemplating a return to Utah for a potential gubernatorial bid in 2028.

The inner circle of the Utah Republican is currently gauging support from donors and allies within the state to assess the viability of his gubernatorial candidacy, according to six individuals involved or informed of the discussions. These individuals spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations. Curtis’ team has been requesting donors to withhold support from other candidates until he reaches a decision, with his chief of staff indicating that Curtis is considering the option.

“John Curtis is going to serve where the people of Utah want him to serve,” said Corey Norman, Curtis’ chief of staff, to POLITICO.

Curtis, who succeeded Mitt Romney as senator from Utah last year, is known for his pragmatic and moderate approach during his three terms in the U.S. House. Experiencing the increasing polarization in Washington, Curtis, a former mayor and business executive, might be contemplating the advantages of returning to state politics.

“He doesn’t love being in the Senate,” mentioned a Utah Republican operative familiar with Curtis’ political aspirations. “Trump’s MAGA base sees him as one of the four squishiest Republicans. He’s basically Mitt without the stature.”

Curtis’ deliberation coincides with Jason Chaffetz’s quiet maneuvering to secure the 2028 gubernatorial field following Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s announcement that he would not seek a third term.

A potential primary contest between Chaffetz and Curtis in 2028 could reflect broader ideological divisions within the Republican Party as it approaches its first presidential election in a decade without Trump on the ballot. Chaffetz is a staunch advocate of the Trump administration on Fox News, while Curtis identifies as a self-described “Reagan Republican” and occasional critic of Trump, similar to his predecessor, Romney.

Earlier in the year, as Chaffetz solicited support from Utah donors and elected officials, Curtis received numerous inquiries about a potential run, according to two individuals close to the senator, who were granted anonymity to discuss private dialogues. Initially, Curtis dismissed these suggestions, but he is now seriously considering them.

“The first time I asked John about this, and the third and fourth and fifth time, his answer was, ‘Have I said hell no lately?’” commented a longtime friend. “And now his response has changed dramatically.”

In recent weeks, the friend observed, “there has been a very meaningful change in his thinking.”

The informal group of advisors, friends, and long-standing allies now canvassing donors aims to secure $10 million in pledges. Curtis’ current perspective, as expressed by a second longtime friend, is, “If there’s a pathway forward and I felt like it was clear to me that citizens wanted me to do it, then I would do it.”

As an outdoors enthusiast and practicing Latter-day Saint, Curtis recently retreated to the mountains to pray and reflect on his decision, according to the first longtime friend. Curtis is also planning a 250-mile solo trek across Utah to commemorate the U.S.’ 250th anniversary, ending on July 4 in Provo, Utah, as shared by a second person close to the senator. This journey will provide Curtis with additional time to contemplate his political future.

Meanwhile, Chaffetz, whom Curtis succeeded in the U.S. House when Chaffetz left for a position at Fox News, is actively engaging with local lawmakers and donors to secure their support, and has started transferring funds from a federal PAC to a state PAC.

“His pitch is that he is the likely nominee and he invites them to get in early while they still can,” said a second longtime Utah GOP operative, who remains undecided in the potential primary, speaking anonymously to discuss the matter openly. “You can tell from his finance disclosures that he has had limited success on that front.” Chaffetz did not respond to a request for comment.

This open-mindedness may be an effort to avoid previous missteps: Curtis initially declared he wouldn’t run for Romney’s Senate seat, but later reconsidered and entered the 2024 GOP primary after encouragement from Utah donors, political figures, and Romney allies. Despite a challenging campaign against candidates who had already gathered substantial support, Curtis secured over 50 percent of the vote in the primary.

“He’s not going to cede early ground to Chaffetz like he did to Wilson in the Senate race,” noted the second Utah GOP political operative. “It’s now to the point where I would be surprised if Curtis doesn’t run.”

Curtis’ entry into the Senate in 2025 was welcomed by Republicans skeptical of Trump, hoping he would continue Romney’s legacy as a critic of the president. During his time in the House, Curtis gained a reputation as a China hawk and a unique Republican voice in favor of conservation, founding the House’s Conservative Climate Caucus. He was among the most productive House members, passing 27 bills during his three terms.

However, the Senate has proven challenging for a consensus-driven pragmatist like Curtis. He was unable to secure a position on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by fellow Utahn, Sen. Mike Lee. Despite opposing the Trump administration on various fronts — he was credited with blocking several Trump nominees and fought to preserve clean energy tax credits in the One Beautiful Bill Act — he aligned with Trump 100% of the time in 2025, according to VoteHub. (Ultimately, he voted for the reconciliation package, which included a gradual reduction of some credits.)

Curtis frequently shares with allies that his most fulfilling role was as mayor of Provo, Utah, where he could implement changes as the city’s nonpartisan chief executive, as noted by two other individuals close to the senator.

Norman, Curtis’ chief of staff, has appeared on local media, hinting at Curtis’ openness to a gubernatorial bid. During a KSL NewsRadio appearance on April 9, he stated that Curtis “hasn’t said yes, he hasn’t said no.” In an ABC4 interview aired Sunday, Norman was more direct: “He is an executive problem solver at heart, and in my opinion, he would make an exceptional governor.”

Curtis could maintain his Senate position while campaigning for governor. If elected, he would appoint his successor from three candidates provided by the state legislature.

There is an increasing number of Utah political figures supporting Curtis’ potential governorship.

“Chaffetz is the only one out there right now and folks are looking for an alternative that has the ability to beat him,” said a third Utah GOP operative, speaking anonymously. “It just sucks that he’s forcing the field to start so early. A two-plus year run for governor is absurd.”

Curtis’ willingness to consider a gubernatorial run — more than two years before the 2028 election — is causing some allies concern. The topic arose during a recent wedding for Romney’s grandson, where Romney’s allies and former staffers expressed both support for Curtis as a potential governor and a desire for him to complete his Senate term, according to an attendee speaking anonymously about private conversations.

However, many were dissatisfied with Curtis’ team for revealing his intentions so early in the election cycle. “It’s pretty early to leak it all out,” the individual remarked. “Way too early.”