After easy win, Curtis faces divided Congress, re-election

Republican John Curtis became Utah’s newest member of Congress after easily winning Tuesday’s special election to replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz in a heavily GOP district.

Now comes the hard part: stepping into a divided congress and mapping out a way to win the seat again next year. Curtis was only elected to fill the final year of Chaffetz’s term. Chaffetz abruptly resigned earlier this year, citing a “mid-life crisis.”

Curtis the mayor of the Mormon stronghold of Provo, is expected to be sworn in quickly as Republicans controlling the U.S. House hope to tackle an ambitious agenda before year’s end.

The moderate Republican will have to walk a line between supporting the head of his party, President Donald Trump, while distancing himself from the president’s controversies.