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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert publicly announced Thursday that he's running for re-election in 2016, after telling a group of about 50 of his core supporters the day before that he is in the race.
"Keep it quiet because this is not an official announcement, but I am, you know, intending to run in 2016," the governor joked during the taping of his monthly news conference on KUED, Ch. 7.
Herbert said he felt he needed to address the speculation surrounding the governor's race at what he called a regular annual meeting with the political, business and community leaders that have backed his previous runs.
"I find it a little bit awkward that we're talking about 2016 and we haven't even finished the election of 2014, but with the encouragement and the questions being asked, I told my supporters it is my intention to run again," the governor said.
His supporters were "being hit by other people and saying, 'Well, gee, do we find another horse to ride? Is there somebody else out there?' A lot of people are concerned if not me, who," he said.
I find it a little bit awkward that we're talking about 2016 and we haven't even finished the election of 2014, but with the encouragement and the questions being asked, I told my supporters it is my intention to run again.
–Gov. Herbert
He said he does not expect to make the transition into campaign mode until sometime next year. Herbert said at the end of the 2014 Legislature in March he would make a decision about another run this summer, rather than early next year as planned.
Herbert said he does not expect to transition into campaign mode until next year.
House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, has been seen as a potential challenger to Herbert in 2016, especially after she labeled Herbert an "inaction figure" at the start of the legislative session.
Lockhart was in Idaho Thursday and not immediately available for comment on the governor's announcement.
Another Republican eyeing the race, Overstock.com Chairman Jonathan Johnson, said Herbert's announcement doesn't impact his plans.
"There's an election going on that's important, so I haven't made any official announcement. But my intention today is the same as it was six months ago," Johnson said. "I'm looking seriously at it and I can't see why I wouldn't."
Johnson said he is putting together a team of political advisers and meeting with people around the state about bringing what he termed "fresh leadership" to the governor's office.
While Johnson said he expected the governor to run for re-election, he didn't expect the announcement to come so soon.
"We're a long way from 2016," he said. "I guess I was surprised by the timing. I'm not sure what to read into that."
Herbert, who served as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., became governor when Huntsman stepped down in 2009 to become U.S. ambassador to China.
He had to run for the remainder of Huntsman's term in 2010, and he was elected to his first full term in 2012.