A Utah Senate candidate who vowed to “fight back against the establishment” if elected has won support from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who says he is “the type of Republican” the Senate needs to replace him. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney.
Paul on Thursday endorsed Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who gained notoriety in 2020 for opposing a mask mandate amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“In 2024, Utah will elect a Republican no matter what. The question is what type of Republican,” Paul said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.
“We need supporters of me and Mike Lee who will defend the Constitution. We need Republicans who will stand against reckless spending and endless wars. I enthusiastically support Trent Staggs because he is that type of Republican,” Paul added.
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Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul is running for the Utah Senate to replace retiring Sen. Mitt Romney, and has “enthusiastically” supported Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs. (Getty Images | Trent Staggs team)
Staggs, who also received the endorsement of former President Trump last month, described Paul as a “tireless defender” of conservative principles and said he was grateful for the Kentucky senator’s support.
“Rand Paul has always been a champion for freedom and small government, and I’m honored to have his endorsement,” Staggs told Fox News Digital. “I look forward to working with him to take on big government and pursue America First policies in the Senate.”
stags Romney announced his intention to run last spring, before announcing he would retire from the House of Representatives at the end of next year.
“I love my children and I fear for the country they will inherit if I stand by and do nothing,” Staggs told Fox News Digital at the time. “For too long, we have allowed government bureaucrats to squander the future of the next generation. I want more voices to speak out against that.”
”Mitt Romney “He’s a much better fit for the Senate than I am. We’ve elected too many people who ‘fit’ in Washington. I’m not going to Washington to make friends, I’m going to make a difference,” he added.
Romney, who won the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 but later lost to Barack Obama, announced in September that he would not seek a second term in the Senate.
At a town hall meeting at Riverton High School in March, Staggs spoke about the support his campaign has received, claiming that those who have supported him have an energy he would “like to emulate” if elected.
“I’m not just a guy who’s out there trying to garner support,” Staggs said at the time, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. “This is by design. These are people whose passion and energy and ability to resist the system is something I want to emulate.”
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Staggs announced his candidacy for the Utah Senate last spring and was endorsed by former President Trump last month. (Trent Staggs)
In a supportive post on Truth Social, Trump praised Staggs for his commitment to “Make America Great Again.”
“Trent Staggs is 100% MAGA and is running to fill the seat of total loser Mitt Romney as the next Senator from the great state of Utah.” Trump wrote That’s how it was back then. “A highly successful entrepreneur who has served admirably as Mayor of Riverton for the past six years, Trent knows how to create jobs, stop inflation, grow the economy and secure our borders.”
“As our next senator, Trent will help us unleash American energy, support our military and veterans, and defend the Second Amendment, which is under constant attack,” he added. “I have my full support for Trent Staggs. He will be a great senator, and he will not let you down!”
Staggs was one of the first candidates to potentially challenge Romney, and has since garnered endorsements from several other prominent Republicans, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Arizona Senate candidate Kali Lake, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
We also receive support from Utah’s largest police union The Utah Fraternal Order of Police described Staggs as a “longtime supporter of law enforcement and in particular the Fraternal Order of Police.”
Utah’s Republican Party selected Suggs to replace Mr. Romney at its state convention last month, although the state’s primary election is not until June 25, when voters can express their opinions on candidates.
Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs addresses delegates at the Utah Republican Convention on April 27, 2024 in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)
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Staggs is one of a handful of Republicans seeking the GOP nomination, along with other more moderate candidates vying to replace Romney in the Senate, including Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, current Utah Rep. John Curtis and businessman Jason Walton.
The winner of the Republican primary will advance to the general election, where a Republican candidate will likely defeat Democratic candidate Carolyn Gleich and other independents or independents. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Utah since 1996.
