Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) fended off a right-wing primary challenger and defeated the state party-backed candidate, Decision Desk HQ projects.
Cox, a popular incumbent, defeated Phil Lyman, who received the official Utah Republican nomination earlier this year after some in the party criticized Cox as too moderate. Cox was booed at the party’s state convention, but political observers say the party chose its candidate primarily based on its support for former President Trump.
Lyman isPardon by President TrumpAfter his conviction in 2020 for leading an ATV protest on closed public land, he said he had supported the former president “unapologetically” since 2016.
Cox said he hasn’t voted for a major party presidential candidate since 2012 and said both parties made a “huge mistake” by nominating President Biden and former President Trump, respectively, for their nominations.
Under Utah’s convention-and-caucus system, Cox could have been removed from the ballot if he had not won his party’s nomination, but he gathered enough signatures to run in Tuesday’s election without his party’s endorsement.
Despite the cold shoulder from the party,High approval ratingFrom his state, importantvoteThis puts them in a favorable position heading into Tuesday’s match.
This is not the first time a state party has voted against a candidate who won an election. In 2016, the party also held a state convention.Refused to be namedHe voted for Cox’s former boss, then-Governor Gary Herbert, who won handily in the primary and general election.
Cox will face Democratic state Rep. Brian King in the fall.
