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Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz just made a $113,000 political chess move that's could set Utah's political world abuzz with speculation about his gubernatorial ambitions.
In March, Chaffetz quietly transferred the entire $113,000 bank balance from his federal American Victory political action committee to the state-level Utah Victory PAC he opened last year.
When asked about this significant financial maneuver, Chaffetz downplayed the move as simple cost-cutting.
“One local filing instead of two. Saves money,” Chaffetz said in a text message to Utah Political Watch.
The timing of this financial shuffling could raise eyebrows. Chaffetz’s federal PAC has laid dormant since 2020 - drawing zero contributions while spending thousands for compliance costs. The shift to a state PAC opens some intriguing possibilities. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has said he won’t run for a third term in 2028. Chaffetz has a history of flirting with a gubernatorial run in 2020 and 2024.
"Leaving all doors open," Chaffetz teased when pressed about his future plans.
This transfer more than doubles his state PAC's war chest, which raised $100,000 last year. He’d need to significantly step up his fundraising efforts if he does throw his hat into the ring. Cox raised $4.5 million for his first gubernatorial race in 2020, and more than $7.3 million for his 2024 re-election bid.
The move to a state PAC brings another advantage: unlimited donations. While federal PACs cap individual contributions at $5,000 annually, Utah places no such restrictions on state-level committees.
Chaffetz is already capitalizing on this freedom. His donor list includes George Glass, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to Japan, and 4Life Research founder David Lisonbee, who have each contributed $20,000. Kevin Pritchett of Kings Camo added $10,000, while Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien chipped in $5,000.
Chaffez has kept a tight grip on his PAC’s purse strings. His 2024 contributions to Utah's congressional delegation totaled just $5,000 through his federal PAC, with Sen. Mike Lee receiving the largest share at $2,000. Rep. Blake Moore was notably absent from the recipient list. The state PAC's spending has been equally conservative, distributing just $4,700 among various state and local candidates and county Republican parties.
The move to a state PAC seems to reveal Chaffetz’s political priorities. While he's previously floated the idea of a Senate run, transferring funds to a state committee effectively closes that door - federal law prevents state PAC money from funding federal campaigns.
In 2017, Chaffetz shocked Utah‘s political establishment by abruptly resigning from Congress just six months into his fifth term. Then Provo-mayor John Curtis won the special election to replace him.
In his post-Congressional career, he has become a Fox News personality, authored several books and hosts the Jason in the House podcast. In 2021 he joined the Government Accountability Institute, a conservative think tank partly founded by Steve Bannon.
