2024 Utah gubernatorial election
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Elections in Utah |
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The 2024 Utah gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of Utah, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor Spencer Cox is running for re-election to a second term in office. Primary elections took place on June 25, 2024.[1]
Background
[edit]Utah is considered to be a strongly red state at the federal and state levels: Republicans control all statewide executive offices, the entire congressional delegation, and supermajorities in both state legislative chambers. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump carried Utah by 20.5 percentage points.[2][3]
Cox was first elected in 2020, defeating Christopher Peterson by 32.65 points.[4]
Republican primary
[edit]Incumbent Republican governor Spencer Cox faced criticism from many conservatives for his moderate political positions, including his opposition to former President Donald Trump.[5] Cox was booed at the Utah Republican state convention in April 2024.[6] He faced a primary challenge from state representative Phil Lyman, who won over 67% of the vote at the convention.[7] However, Cox collected enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Cox consistently led Lyman in polls and won re-nomination, though by a closer margin than expected.[8]
Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Spencer Cox, incumbent governor[9]
- Running mate: Deidre Henderson, incumbent lieutenant governor[9]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Phil Lyman, state representative[10]
- Running mate: Natalie Clawson, attorney[11]
- Previous running mate: Layne Bangerter, former special assistant to the president[11]
Eliminated at convention
[edit]- Sylvia Miera-Fisk, commercial pilot[10]
- Carson Jorgensen, former chair of the Utah Republican Party (2021–2023) and candidate for Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2020[10]
- Running mate: Corrine Johnson, activist[12]
- Scott Robbins, U.S. Marine Corps veteran[10]
Declined
[edit]- Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. Representative from Utah's 3rd congressional district (2009–2017)[13]
- Robert O'Brien, former U.S. National Security Advisor (2019–2021)[14][15]
Endorsements
[edit]Fundraising
[edit]Campaign finance reports as of June 18, 2024 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
Spencer Cox (R) | $2,094,117 | $1,448,573 | $645,543 |
Phil Lyman (R) | $1,320,381 | $864,201 | $456,179 |
Source: State of Utah Financial Disclosures[18][19] |
Polling
[edit]Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Spencer Cox |
Phil Lyman |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noble Predictive Insights | June 20–21, 2024 | 432 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 55% | 42% | 2%[b] | 1% |
HarrisX[A] | June 4–7, 2024 | 477 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 62% | 25% | – | 12% |
Noble Predictive Insights | April 8–16, 2024 | 283 (RV) | ± 5.8% | 51% | 4% | 9%[c] | 36% |
Dan Jones & Associates | January 16–21, 2024 | 428 (RV) | ± 4.7% | 50% | 3% | 11%[d] | 37% |
Results
[edit]Convention
[edit]Republican convention results, April 27 2024 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate/Running mate | Round 1 | Round 2 | ||||||||||
Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||||||
Phil Lyman/Layne Bangerter | 1663 | 44.24% | 2495 | 67.54% | ||||||||
Spencer Cox/Deidre Henderson | 1085 | 28.86% | 1199 | 32.46% | ||||||||
Carson Jorgensen/Corrine Johnson | 970 | 25.80% | Eliminated | |||||||||
Scott Robbins | 21 | 0.56% | Eliminated | |||||||||
Sylvia Miera-Fisk | 20 | 0.53% | Eliminated | |||||||||
Inactive Ballots | 2 ballots | 4 ballots |
Debate
[edit]No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||
Spencer Cox | Phil Lyman | |||||
1 | Jun. 11, 2024 | Utah Debate Commission | Carolina Ballard | YouTube | P | P |
Primary
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/2024_Utah_Governor_GOP_Primary_Results_map_by_county.svg/220px-2024_Utah_Governor_GOP_Primary_Results_map_by_county.svg.png)
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Spencer Cox (incumbent) Deidre Henderson (incumbent) |
232,164 | 54.40% | |
Republican | Phil Lyman Natalie Clawson |
194,639 | 45.60% | |
Total votes | 426,803 | 100.00% |
Aftermath
[edit]Lyman later sued, claiming that the Republican convention was responsible for selecting the party's nominee and that the primary was illegal. The Utah Supreme Court rejected his argument.[21] Lyman later announced that he would run as a write-in candidate.[22]
Cox has since backed Trump after an assassination attempt made during a rally on July 13, stating in a letter: "Your life was spared. Now, because of that miracle, you have the opportunity to do something that no other person on earth can do right now: unify and save our country."[23] Cox also stated in a later news conference: “I am doing everything I can to help and support him...We will still have lots of disagreements, I’m sure, and we’ll still do everything we can to help the state of Utah and help the Republican Party be successful.”[24]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Brian King, state representative from the 23rd district (2009–present) and former Minority Leader of the Utah House of Representatives (2015–2023)[25]
- Running mate: Rebekah Cummings, director of digital matters at the University of Utah[26]
Endorsements
[edit]- Political parties
Libertarian Party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Robert Latham, attorney, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2012, and nominee for Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2020[28]
Independent American Party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]Independents
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Tom Tomeny, businessman[28]
Other candidates
[edit]Republican write-in
[edit]- Phil Lyman, state representative[29]
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[30] | Solid R | July 13, 2024 |
Inside Elections[31] | Solid R | July 14, 2023 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[32] | Safe R | June 4, 2024 |
RCP[33] | Solid R | July 13, 2024 |
Elections Daily[34] | Safe R | July 12, 2023 |
CNalysis[35] | Solid R | August 17, 2024 |
Results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Spencer Cox Deidre Henderson |
||||
Democratic | Brian King Rebekah Cummings |
||||
Libertarian | Robert Latham TBD |
||||
Independent Republican | Phil Lyman (write-in) Natalie Clawson (write-in) |
||||
Independent American | Tommy Williams TBD |
||||
Independent | Tom Tomeny TBD |
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Total votes |
Notes
[edit]- Partisan clients
- ^ This poll was sponsored by Deseret News and the University of Utah
References
[edit]- ^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "Party control of Utah state government". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Utah 2020 presidential election results". www.cnn.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Utah 2020 gubernatorial results". www.cnn.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ Samuel Benson (February 15, 2024). "Utah Gov. Cox: Republicans making 'a huge mistake' if they nominate Trump". Deseret News. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Hannah Schoenbaum (June 12, 2024). "Utah governor defends record in primary debate after harsh reception at GOP convention". AP News. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Brigham Tomco (April 27, 2024). "Phil Lyman beats Gov. Spencer Cox at Utah GOP convention. Both advance to primary". Deseret News. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Suzanne Bates (June 8, 2024). "Poll shows Cox far ahead of Lyman in Utah Republican primary". Deseret News. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ a b McKellar, Katie (April 21, 2022). "Are Utah Republicans mad at Gov. Cox for transgender veto? Let political chips fall, he says". Deseret News. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
Cox has said he does intend to run for reelection in 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Schott, Bryan; Anderson Stern, Emily (April 27, 2024). "Beat at GOP convention, Gov. Cox tells delegates: 'Maybe you just hate that I don't hate enough.'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Price, Carlysle (May 4, 2024). "Phil Lyman announces Natalie Clawson as selection for lieutenant govornor". KSL-TV. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Schott, Bryan (April 25, 2024). "Carson Jorgensen taps Utah Parents United founder as GOP running mate in 2024 gubernatorial race". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Aertz, Lindsay (September 20, 2023). "Jason Chaffetz not closing the door, not actively pursuing 2024 run for Senate or governor". KSL (radio network).
"That's not something I'm planning to do, challenging Governor Cox is not in my plans," he said of 2024. But he said he is keeping his eye on a possible 2028 run for Utah governor.
- ^ "Are Jason Chaffetz or Robert O'Brien planning to run for office in Utah?". February 21, 2023.
- ^ Tomco, Brigham (August 27, 2023). "The most powerful Utahn you've never heard of could be America's next vice president". Deseret News. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Hanson, Libbey (January 23, 2024). "Riley Gaines Speaks at the U, Endorses Lyman for Governor". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Vote Lyman to Lead!". Eagle Forum. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "Contributions and Expenditures For Candidates & Office Holders". State of Utah Financial Disclosures. June 18, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Contributions and Expenditures For Candidates & Office Holders". State of Utah Financial Disclosures. June 18, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Primary Election Republican for Governor". Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Gehrke, Robert (August 13, 2024). "Utah Supreme Court rejects Phil Lyman's bid to kick Gov. Spencer Cox off the ballot and out of office". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Stern, Emily Anderson (August 12, 2024). "After losing GOP primary, Phil Lyman will run as a write-in candidate for Utah governor". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Kate (July 19, 2024). "Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox pledges Trump his support after saying last week he wouldn't vote for him". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ Sentner, Irie (July 19, 2024). "Utah governor, a longtime Trump skeptic, offers endorsement after assassination attempt". Politico. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ Bojórquez, Kim (December 4, 2023). "State Rep. Brian King to run for Utah governor in 2024". Axios. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Hudson, Vanessa (April 29, 2024). "Democrat Brian King picks University of Utah librarian as his gubernatorial running mate". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Bates, Suzanne (April 28, 2024). "Utah Democrats endorse Brian King for governor, Caroline Gleich for Senate at state convention". Deseret News. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c "2024 Candidate Filings – Utah Voter Information". vote.utah.gov. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Stern, Emily Anderson (August 13, 2024). "After losing GOP primary, Phil Lyman will run as a write-in candidate for Utah governor". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "2024 Governor Races". www.realclearpolling.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ "Election Ratings". Elections Daily. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ "Governor Forecasts". CNalysis. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Official campaign websites
- Spencer Cox (R) for Governor
- Brian King (D) for Governor
- Rob Latham (L) for Governor
- Charlie Tautuaa (WI) for Governor
- Tom Tomeny (I) for Governor
- Tommy Williams (IAP) for Governor
- Phil Lyman (R write-in) for Governor