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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The vice chairman of Utah's Republican Party has announced his resignation and says he's preparing to seek the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson.
Morgan Philpot made the announcement via Twitter and on Facebook on Friday. He did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press.
State party Chairman Dave Hansen says he accepted Philpot's letter of resignation last week. Philpot's resignation is effective Jan. 23, when the state central committee is set to meet.
A corporate attorney and a former state lawmaker, Philpot is the first Republican to announce plans to challenge Matheson for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Matheson, a fiscally conservative moderate, was first elected to the House in 2000.
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