Sen. Mike Lee brushes off opponents to win Utah GOP primary
2 years, 6 months ago

Sen. Mike Lee brushes off opponents to win Utah GOP primary

Associated Press  

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Sen. Mike Lee won Utah’s Republican primary Tuesday, brushing off attacks from two challengers who criticized him for his unwavering loyalty to former President Donald Trump and uncompromising lawmaking style. Lee’s decisive victory marked a win for Trump-aligned Republicans and illustrated the risk GOP candidates take in primary elections when they criticize the former president, even in religiously conservative states like Utah where many voters disapprove of his foul language and rough-and-tumble politics. “Now that this primary is over my hope and my expectation is that Republicans will do what we do best … Let’s come together,” Lee said at a election night party at a suburban Utah events center. “I’m extending an invitation to all voters who are discouraged, frustrated, and exhausted by Lee’s divisive and ineffective politics,” McMullin said in a statement after Lee’s win, noting that about one-third of primary voters had cast ballots for other candidates, according to unofficial election results Tuesday night.

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History of this topic

Utah Senate Race: Curtis Favored to Win Romney's Seat
2 months, 1 week ago

Utah Senate Race: Curtis Favored to Win Romney's Seat

Associated Press  

Utah voters are poised to decide whether Republican Rep. John Curtis or Democrat Caroline Gleich will win the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Mitt Romney. Curtis, a moderate Republican, is favored to win, but he faces a formidable opponent in Gleich, a mountaineer and environmental activist. Both candidates have sparred over their differing approaches to climate change, a top issue …

Republican primary in Utah US House race drops into recount zone, threatening Trump-backed incumbent
6 months ago

Republican primary in Utah US House race drops into recount zone, threatening Trump-backed incumbent

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — The Republican primary race to represent Utah’s 2nd District in Congress narrowed into recount territory on Tuesday after dueling endorsements from influential Republicans created a conundrum for voters who had little time to get to know the incumbent before casting ballots. “I know we’re in potential recount territory, but I don’t anticipate that a recount will …

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Utah’s state primaries
6 months, 3 weeks ago

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Utah’s state primaries

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Anti-Trump Republicans lost their standard-bearer in the Senate when Sen. Mitt Romney announced he wouldn’t seek a second term. Even before Romney announced he wouldn’t run again, former state House Speaker Brad Wilson had already formed an exploratory committee and Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs joined the primary. Winning a Utah nominating convention means that a candidate’s name will …

Republican contenders for Mitt Romney’s open US Senate seat clash over support for Trump
7 months ago

Republican contenders for Mitt Romney’s open US Senate seat clash over support for Trump

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Three of the four Utah Republicans vying for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney sought to portray themselves as the most loyal to former President Donald Trump during Monday’s primary debate, while the likely frontrunner stood out as someone willing to challenge party leadership. Observers are closely watching whether voters select a successor whose …

Utah GOP picks Trump-backed mayor as nominee to replace Sen. Mitt Romney, but primary foes await
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Utah GOP picks Trump-backed mayor as nominee to replace Sen. Mitt Romney, but primary foes await

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Republican Party on Saturday selected Trent Staggs as its nominee to replace Mitt Romney in the U.S. Senate, hours after the local official received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. The mayor from Riverton, just south of Salt Lake City, still must face other top contenders in the June 25 GOP primary, including U.S. Rep. …

Utah Sen Mike Lee endorses Donald Trump for president, hurts Florida Gov Ron DeSantis
1 year ago

Utah Sen Mike Lee endorses Donald Trump for president, hurts Florida Gov Ron DeSantis

Hindustan Times  

On Friday night, Donald Trump received a major endorsement for his 2024 presidential bid from Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, a blow to the campaign of Florida Gov. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah throws weight behind Donald Trump for 2024's presidential bid. It’s time to get behind Donald Trump and I wholeheartedly endorse Donald J. Trump in his bid for the …

Race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney heats up as Republican Utah House speaker formally enters race
1 year, 3 months ago

Race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney heats up as Republican Utah House speaker formally enters race

Associated Press  

DRAPER, Utah — Promising to fight against liberal activism in Washington if elected, Republican Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson formally announced Wednesday night that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitt Romney, who recently announced he won’t run for reelection. “Joe Biden and radical leftists as well as ‘go along to get along’ Republicans are …

McMullin loss in Utah raises independent candidacy questions
2 years, 2 months ago

McMullin loss in Utah raises independent candidacy questions

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Democrats’ decision to back an independent rather than nominate a member of their own party to take on Republican Mike Lee transformed the state’s U.S. Senate race from foregone conclusion to closely watched slugfest. Four years after running for U.S. Senate herself, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson supported Democrats’ decision to back McMullin. McMullin …

Utah Republican Mike Lee wins reelection to US Senate
2 years, 2 months ago

Utah Republican Mike Lee wins reelection to US Senate

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Republican Mike Lee has been reelected to a third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating independent challenger Evan McMullin on Tuesday in the state’s most closely watched Senate race in decades. His win indicates the majority of Utah voters were not swayed by McMullin’s criticisms of Lee’s second-term transformation, from a one-time opponent of former …

Mike Lee’s Support For Trump’s Coup Attempt Could Cost GOP The Senate
2 years, 2 months ago

Mike Lee’s Support For Trump’s Coup Attempt Could Cost GOP The Senate

Huff Post  

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee and his independent challenger Evan McMullin shake hands before their televised debate, on Oct. 17, 2022, in Orem, Utah. “I’m a staunch Republican, but I’m sick of him.” As the Senate minority leader and his allies focused on a half dozen states around the country with open seats or vulnerable Democrats, they largely ignored one …

Utah Senate race: Referendum on direction Trump has led GOP
2 years, 2 months ago

Utah Senate race: Referendum on direction Trump has led GOP

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Just weeks before the Nov. 8 vote, Utah’s senior senator, Republican Mike Lee, is now acknowledging a real reelection threat from Evan McMullin, an anti-Donald Trump independent and former Republican challenging him in the state’s most competitive Senate race in decades. Lee’s campaign insists it is confident heading into Election Day, but there are unmistakable signs …

Mike Lee tries to distance himself from Trump in Utah debate
2 years, 2 months ago

Mike Lee tries to distance himself from Trump in Utah debate

Associated Press  

OREM, Utah — Fending off attacks from his independent challenger, U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah worked to distinguish himself from former President Donald Trump in a contentious debate Monday evening. Lee’s emphasis on his willingness to stray from Trump comes as McMullin attempts to paint him as one of the former president’s most loyal disciples. McMullin recently released an …

Evan McMullin flattens Mike Lee in Utah Senate debate over his involvement in Trump's J6 coup attempt
2 years, 2 months ago

Evan McMullin flattens Mike Lee in Utah Senate debate over his involvement in Trump's J6 coup attempt

Raw Story  

Independent candidate Evan McMullin went after Sen. Mike Lee in the Utah Senate debate Monday, for his role in the Jan. 6 attempt to go after Congress and overthrow the 2020 election. “Please tell me what I should be saying," Lee begged White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, desperate for talking points on the 2020 election. "You said the …

Utah’s Evan McMullin upends two-party fight for US Senate
2 years, 4 months ago

Utah’s Evan McMullin upends two-party fight for US Senate

Associated Press  

PROVO, Utah — Campaigning at a park filled with 19th-century pushcarts on a state holiday honoring Utah’s early Mormon pioneers, Evan McMullin glad hands voters as he strolls past potato sack races and beverage stands selling cold, sugary drinks under a sweltering sun. “When our ancestors arrived, the only way to make this harsh but very beautiful place work in …

Utah’s GOP Congressmen handily defeat primary challengers
2 years, 6 months ago

Utah’s GOP Congressmen handily defeat primary challengers

Associated Press  

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — All four members of the U.S. House from Utah defeated Republican primary challengers Tuesday, advancing to the November election where they’ll face Democratic challengers whose primaries were not contested. In the first primary election after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, three of Tuesday’s winners — Lee, Owens and Stewart — trumpeted the decision as …

Mike Lee weathers intraparty attacks at Utah GOP debate
2 years, 7 months ago

Mike Lee weathers intraparty attacks at Utah GOP debate

Associated Press  

DRAPER, Utah — Two Republicans took aim at a politician known as one of former President Donald Trump’s most devoted allies on Wednesday, attacking incumbent Sen. Mike Lee and working to convince voters that one of Washington’s more polarizing figures may not be ideal for voters in one of the country’s most conservative states. While Lee appealed to party unity …

Utah Sen. Mike Lee braces for toughest reelection fight yet
2 years, 8 months ago

Utah Sen. Mike Lee braces for toughest reelection fight yet

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Republican Sen. Mike Lee may have been an upstart when he toppled a longtime senator in a tea party wave more than a decade ago, but in the dozen years since he’s managed to avoid a serious challenge in deeply conservative Utah. The recent turn of events illustrate Lee’s potential vulnerability in the rare Republican state …

Utah Democrats back independent as US Senate candidate
2 years, 8 months ago

Utah Democrats back independent as US Senate candidate

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Democrats pulling hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee took the unusual step Saturday of spurning a party hopeful to instead get behind an independent, former presidential candidate Evan McMullin. Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016, …

Texts show Utah Sen. Lee's early work to overturn election
2 years, 9 months ago

Texts show Utah Sen. Lee's early work to overturn election

The Independent  

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Utah, home of conservative Trump critics, hosts GOP meeting
2 years, 11 months ago

Utah, home of conservative Trump critics, hosts GOP meeting

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — A deep-red state that’s home to some of Donald Trump’s most vocal conservative critics welcomed members of the Republican National Committee on Wednesday for a meeting in which party officials are expected to solidify the former president’s status as the GOP standard-bearer ahead of the midterm elections. Utah — home to U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, co-founders …

Evan McMullin outraises GOP incumbent Sen. Lee in Utah
2 years, 11 months ago

Evan McMullin outraises GOP incumbent Sen. Lee in Utah

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — An independent candidate challenging U.S. Sen. Mike Lee in Utah raised more in campaign contributions than the incumbent Republican in the final quarter of 2021, setting the stage for a costly Senate race in a state where sitting Republicans typically cruise to victory. Evan McMullin, a former CIA operative who ran as a third-party candidate for …

Third-party conservative challenges Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee
3 years, 3 months ago

Third-party conservative challenges Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — Former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin launched a campaign Tuesday to challenge Republican Sen. Mike Lee in Utah, a conservative state where McMullin made inroads with voters uncomfortable with then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. In a tweet announcing his campaign Tuesday, he said “extremism, division and conspiracy now threaten our quality of life and democratic republic.” …

Former lawmakers launches campaign challenging Sen. Mike Lee
3 years, 7 months ago

Former lawmakers launches campaign challenging Sen. Mike Lee

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — A former Utah state lawmaker launched a campaign Thursday to challenge Republican Sen. Mike Lee for his U.S. Senate seat next year. Becky Edwards, who served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2009 to 2018, is the first candidate to formally announce she will challenge Lee in the 2022 election. It’s time we have a …

Utah GOP defends Romney amid criticism over impeachment vote
3 years, 10 months ago

Utah GOP defends Romney amid criticism over impeachment vote

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Republican Party has defended Sen. Mitt Romney after an online motion accused him of misrepresenting himself as a Republican and embarrassing the state by voting against former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trials. It says Romney failed to “represent the average conservative Utah Republican voter” by voting to convict Trump at his second …

News Guide: President Donald Trump wins Utah again
4 years, 2 months ago

News Guide: President Donald Trump wins Utah again

Associated Press  

SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump won Utah again, defeating Democrat Joe Biden in the deeply conservative state. State voters also elected Republican Spencer Cox as Utah’s first new governor in more than a decade, while a closely watched U.S. House race was too early to call. U.S. HOUSE The race for Utah’s 4th Congressional District was too early …

Romney makes final pitch to voters ahead of Senate primary
6 years, 6 months ago

Romney makes final pitch to voters ahead of Senate primary

Associated Press  

AMERICAN FORK, Utah — Mitt Romney is flashing his familiar smile at city parks and backyards in Utah’s mountains and suburbs this week, making his final pitch after being forced into a Republican Senate primary Tuesday against a conservative state lawmaker. Still, Romney’s tone has changed considerably since the 2016 campaign when he called then-candidate Trump a “phony” and a …

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