The candidate: Businessman Bob Fuehr
The member: Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson is retiring from Congress after seven terms.
The district: Utah’s 4th is House Republicans’ most certain pickup this cycle. Matheson had a unique political brand and without him in the equation, the battle to watch for this seat is the GOP nomination process. Fuehr will face off against Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love.

With Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson out of the political equation in Utah’s 4th District, Republican businessman Bob Fuehr might be the only thing standing between Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love and Congress.

Love, the GOP’s 2012 nominee, had been preparing to challenge Matheson again before his surprise retirement announcement in December. She is currently favored for the nomination, and many Washington Republicans hope that Love, an African-American, will come to Congress and present a more diverse image for the party.

But Fuehr, a retired telecommunications executive who lost a bid in 2012 for the 2nd District, cautions against some of that thinking.

“I’m better qualified. I have greater depth and breadth of experience than Mrs. Love,” he said. “And I think that Mrs. Love is a fine person. But I think getting an African-American woman into Congress ought to be the result of the election, not the goal of the election.”

Fuehr’s hopes start — and could end — at the April 26 state party convention. Unless a candidate takes 60 percent of the delegate vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in the June 24 primary.

“First we’ll start with the convention,” he said. “I’ve got to convince a majority of the delegates at the convention that I have a better chance of beating the Democratic challenger than Mrs. Love does, and get into the primary.”

Fuehr also brushed off questions that, as a non-Mormon, he could have a tougher time running for office in Utah.

“Well, seeing the fact that I am a Roman Catholic and I’ve never been an LDS running for office before, I don’t really know,” he said. “The religion aspect, or the religion question, really hasn’t come up in the campaign.”

This video interview series questions the scores of congressional hopefuls who visit the CQ Roll Call offices each cycle. Responses and questions have been edited and condensed. Have a question for a candidate? Follow us at @RollCallPols to learn about upcoming interviews.

Previous candidate interviews:

• Massachusetts’ 6th District: Democrat Seth Moulton
• New York’s 1st District: Republican Lee Zeldin
• Senate in Kansas: Republican Milton Wolf
• West Virginia’s 2nd: Republican Alex Mooney
• Georgia’s 1st District: Republican Bob Johnson
• Georgia’s 10th District: Republican Mike Collins
• Senate in Minnesota: Republican Julianne Ortman
• Georgia’s 10th District: Republican Donna Sheldon
• California’s 25th District: Democrat Lee Rogers
• Michigan’s 7th District: Democrat Pam Byrnes
• Nevada’s 3rd District: Democrat Erin Bilbray
• Illinois’ 13th District: Democrat Ann Callis
• Ohio’s 6th District: Democrat Jennifer Garrison
• Michigan’s 1st District: Democrat Jerry Cannon
• Montana’s At-Large District: Democrat John Lewis
• New York’s 23rd District: Democrat Martha Robertson
• Senate in North Carolina: Republican Thom Tillis
• Senate in Alaska: Republican Mead Treadwell
• Senate in South Carolina: Republican Lee Bright
• Senate in Iowa: Republican David Young
• Senate in Kentucky: Republican Matt Bevin
• Illinois’ 12th District: Republican Mike Bost
• Idaho’s 2nd District: Republican Bryan Smith
• Michigan’s 14th District: Democrat Rudy Hobbs
• California’s 45th District: Republican Mimi Walters
• Senate in Iowa: Republican Matt Whitaker
• Senate in Nebraska: Republican Shane Osborn
• Minnesota’s 6th District: Republican Tom Emmer
• Minnesota’s 6th District: Democrat Jim Graves
• Florida’s 2nd District: Democrat Gwen Graham
• Pennsylvania’s 13th District: Democrat Daylin Leach