Utah

Millions are pouring into Utah GOP Senate race. Most has gone to 1 candidate

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2024

Millions are pouring into Utah GOP Senate race. Most has gone to 1 candidate

As Utah moves full-throttle toward the June 25 primary, campaigns and political groups have poured millions of dollars into ads for Republican Senate candidates running for the seat currently held by Sen. Mitt Romney.

The seat is considered safe for the Republican nominee by The Cook Political Report, so the race could be all but over in the next few weeks. Ballots for the primary are already hitting Utah mailboxes so the four Senate candidates are making their last minute pitches to Republican voters.

Rep. John Curtis, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson all rolled out new ads following the state convention, but these last few weeks are critical as the candidates make their final case to Republican voters.

As of the latest FEC filings from early April, more than $16.8 million had been spent in the Republican primary by candidates as well as outside groups, according to Open Secrets. Many millions more have likely been spent in the weeks since as voters are bombarded with mail, digital, print and TV ads.

The next deadline for candidates to file reports with the FEC is 12 days before the primary election, or June 13.

Now that Utahns have their ballots, the last couple weeks are critical for candidates moving forward. By law, super PACs cannot coordinate with campaigns. But following where those groups are spending their money can tell you a thing or two about the election.

Curtis is ‘actively engaging with supporters’

Among the candidates, Curtis has received the vast majority of support from outside spenders, with over $6.6 million spent to boost his campaign from political action committees, which are not allowed to coordinate with candidates’ campaigns.

The latest reports available show Conservative Values for Utah, a PAC that has only supported Curtis, has spent $4.6 million on behalf of his campaign, according to Open Secrets. Among the several donations the PAC has received, the largest was from Jay Faison, the head of a conservative clean energy group, while another came from Robert Walton, one of Walmart founder Sam Walton’s heirs.

Defend American Jobs has spent more than $1.5 million to support Curtis, in addition to other Republican candidates across the country. It is funded by venture capital firms which concentrate on infrastructure, cryptocurrency and technology.

A PAC focused on ClearPath Action Fund had previously announced it was launching a $500,000 effort to aid Curtis in his senatorial bid.

Meanwhile, Curtis has raised over $2.7 million for his campaign, according to the latest FEC reports, and has spent about $1.8 million. He has run a slew of digital and television ads focused on fiscal responsibility, border security and lands issues.

One of the ads shows Curtis sporting a plaid flannel shirt talking to a rancher and clips of the Utah outdoors. The narrator speaks about how Curtis has helped Utah reclaim land from the federal government.

Another ad shows portraits and footage of Curtis at the southern border. He says that drugs are coming into Utah from across the border and his plan to stop them is to hire more agents, stop the cartels and secure the border.

Curtis has also been the target of negative campaign ads.

Early on in the race, Utahns for Liberty spent tens of thousands of dollars against Curtis. Among the group’s funders was Utah state House Speaker Mike Schultz. The group ran an ad criticizing Curtis on the border.

“Congressman Curtis’ campaign is actively engaging with supporters who share his values and vision for Utah,” Corey Norman, chief of staff for Curtis, told the Deseret News. “We’re grateful for the generosity of those who contribute as it allows us to amplify our conservative message and reach more people.”

Staggs says he has a ‘grassroots army’ supporting him

The Protect Freedom PAC, founded by former campaign staffers for Ron and Rand Paul, has spent $531,538 for Staggs, per Open Secrets. The vast majority of that money is directed toward cable and television ads, while there’s also some for digital support.

Staggs has also raised more than $920,000 according to the latest filings, while spending about half of that amount.

In a recent ad, Staggs touted his endorsement from former president Donald Trump, while criticizing Romney and outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Sporting an American flag pin, a grey jacket and blue jeans, Staggs stands in front of an off-white screen declaring he’ll stand his ground agains the establishment and secure the border.

In a statement to the Deseret News, Staggs said, “I’m grateful to the over 7,000 donors that have contributed to my campaign. While opponents are funded by mega donors and special interests, we’ve raised more in small dollar donations than anyone else in the race. Our campaign isn’t funded by special interests. It’s funded by concerned parents, voters and people looking to keep the American Dream alive.”

“While that’s given us the ability to advertise on TV, digital and every other way possible, now it’s also given us a grassroots army knocking doors, making calls and texting their neighbors,” continued Staggs. “Utahns are hungry for an everyday Utahn. They’re hungry for America First policies, and that’s what I offer as a senator.”

Staggs has also been the subject of negative campaign ads.

The Hometown Freedom Action Network has spent thousands on mailers that characterize Staggs as “woke.” The group also spent money against Curtis. The group’s donors haven’t been disclosed yet.

One of the anti-Staggs mailers depicts a police car that was set on fire. “Trent Staggs caved in to the rioters,” said the ad. It was sent ahead of convention and claimed Staggs had a “weak, woke record.”

At the time, Staggs responded to the ad by saying “lies and smears aren’t the ‘Utah way.’”

A campaign billboard for U.S. Senate candidate Jason Walton in Salt Lake County on Thursday, June 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Walton plans to keep ‘aggressively advertising’

A spokesperson for the Walton campaign told the Deseret News that the campaign plans on “aggressively advertising” over the next couple of weeks.

Walton has raised over $2.7 million, of which $2.5 million was a loan from Walton to his own campaign.

“We just increased our media buys on television and radio and also on social media,” said the spokesperson, adding that fundraising has gone well, but a campaign is expensive and they won’t be turning away prospective donors.

The campaign plans on “sticking to our simple message about fixing the economy, lowering prices on food and gas and homes, and trying to get runaway inflation under control and also fixing the border crisis.”

One of Walton’s ads shows the business executive at the Arizona-Mexico border criticizing President Joe Biden and “career politicians” for failing to secure the border while also funding foreign wars.

“Our government should defend our territory,” said Walton.

On May 31, an invoice was uploaded on the Federal Communications Commission website showing ad buys for Walton on ABC4 Utah into late May.

Wilson focuses on being a ‘grassroots campaign’

Wilson, who announced his campaign back in September 2023, has loaned his campaign around $2.8 million, while raising almost another $2 million from donors.

Wilson’s pitched himself as a conservative fighter who will “leave the cowardly RINOs” behind, as one of his ads says. RINO is a term that means Republican in Name Only. This television ad depicts Wilson in a 1966 Chevy Chevelle SS zooming past a Corvette with a Biden license plate with the Utah mountains and desert in the background.

From August 2023 to April 2024, FEC filings show Wilson spending over $600,000 with Flexpoint Media Inc. and Arena Mail & Digital LLC for both media placements and digital advertisements.

Wilson’s spending from late May and June will show up in later FEC filings.

The Deseret News learned that outside groups haven’t spent anything supporting or opposing Wilson recently. As for Wilson’s campaign, the last invoice available on the Federal Communications Commission website for Wilson on ABC4 Utah was uploaded on May 21 and shows Wilson ads purchased through late May. As for KSL, there were four invoices uploaded showing ad purchases throughout April and into late May.

The campaign has been out in the field knocking doors six days a week, a source with the Wilson campaign told the Deseret News.

“We have the best grassroots support and ground game out of any of the campaigns and we appreciate everyone’s support,” said the source. “Our team on average knocks over 2,000 doors per week.”

When asked specifically if the campaign plans on buying more ads, the source did not specify either way.

The candidate who wins the Republican Senate primary will square off against Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich in the general election.

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Utah

Niskanen Center, Arnold Ventures Applaud Utah Clearance Rate Legislation – Niskanen Center

Published

11 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Niskanen Center, Arnold Ventures Applaud Utah Clearance Rate Legislation – Niskanen Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2026

Media Contacts:
Louisa Tavlas
ltavlas@niskanencenter.org

Arnold Ventures
media@arnoldventures.org

Olin: Legislators, Cox, “providing law enforcement with additional resources to improve investigative outcomes” and keep Utah safe.

Washington, DC (March 26, 2026) — The Niskanen Center and Arnold Ventures applaud the Utah State Legislature and Governor Spencer Cox for passing new, bipartisan legislation designed to solve more crimes and provide support for crime victims. The bill, H.B. 137, passed both the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah Senate by wide, bipartisan margins and was signed into law by the Governor today.

“Making Utah as safe as possible requires ensuring law enforcement has every available resource to identify and arrest every criminal who preys upon innocent citizens,” said Jason Olin, senior government affairs manager for criminal justice at the Niskanen Center. “HB 137 establishes a Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund that will provide law enforcement with additional resources to improve investigative outcomes. We thank Rep. Clancy and Sen. McKell for their leadership on this critical issue and Gov. Cox for signing this important piece of legislation.”

“Solving more violent crimes quickly can bring peace to victims and reduce the number of future victims,” said Kevin Ring, vice president of criminal justice advocacy at Arnold Ventures. “Would-be offenders need to know that they will be held accountable, and this law will make it more likely they will. We thank legislative leaders, including Rep. Clancy and Sen. McKell, and Gov. Cox for making sure Utah taxpayers and communities get the biggest public safety bang for their buck.”

H.B. 137, sponsored by Rep. Tyler Clancy (R-60) and Sen. Mike McKell (R-25), creates the Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund to assist Utah law enforcement agencies in solving violent crimes. The fund will support hiring additional law enforcement officers and providing them with the tools they need to solve crimes. H.B. 137 includes provisions to ensure that resources from the fund reach departments of all sizes across both urban and rural jurisdictions. It will also help researchers conduct rigorous evaluations of the policies and practices that are most effective in solving crimes.

Utah is one of the safest states in the nation. But since 2019, the state’s violent crime clearance rate has hovered around 53%. That means nearly half of all violent crimes reported in Utah result in no arrest and no accountability. Even Utah’s 2024 homicide clearance rate of 74% — well above the national average — leaves more than 1 in 4 murders unsolved. Behind each of those unsolved cases is a victim whose family has been denied justice.

Olin, Ring, and other criminal justice experts are available for interview or comment.

More information on the Niskanen Center’s criminal justice policy work can be found here.

More information on AV’s criminal justice policy work can be found here.

###

The Niskanen Center advances an evidence-based agenda to reduce the social costs of crime and punishment. Our priority is to deter crime and reduce violence by building effective systems that deliver proportional punishment swiftly and predictably, and by ensuring law enforcement has the capacity to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change and bipartisan policy reforms, AV works to improve the lives of American families, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity.

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Utah

Utah Jazz Reacts: Who is the most important core player?

Published

23 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Utah Jazz Reacts: Who is the most important core player?

The Utah Jazz are clearly doing everything they can to keep their pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Something tells me that next season, we won’t see as many players on the injury report as this season. That means that the core of this Jazz team will play, and it’s clear they’re going to play well. The question is, of the current Jazz roster, who is going to be the most important player next season? Now, Utah may win the lottery and that could change this entire question. If Utah drafts someone like Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa, that changes everything. That said, let’s just ignore the lottery and draft for the sake of this question. If we’re looking at the odds, it’s statistically a little more likely Utah doesn’t draft in the top four of the draft anyway.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Utah

Utah’s wide receiver room poised for big year in new offense

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Utah’s wide receiver room poised for big year in new offense

It’s been nearly 13 years since a pass-catcher on the Utah football team finished a season with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Whether that streak reaches 14 remains to be seen, but if it does, it certainly won’t be due to a lack of talent.

“Y’all gonna see a different room. I promise y’all that,” said senior wideout Kyri Shoels after Tuesday’s practice session. “We hungry, and that’s really how it is. We don’t got too much to say.”

Shoels, who joins the Utes following a productive season at San José State, where he finished second on the team in receiving yards behind only the nation’s leader in that category, Danny Scudero, has to wait five more months to let his actions do all the talking on the playing field.

By that point, the buzz around Utah’s new wide receiver corps could be ineffable. At least, it seems to be trending that way through one week of spring practices.

“It’s a lot deeper than what it usually is,” said quarterback Byrd Ficklin of the Utes’ wide receiver room. “There’s ballplayers all over.”

Media sessions after spring practices are often a prime setting for coaches and players to hype up one another while the stakes are still low as far as public perception goes. But based on the production and skillset of some of Utah’s newest pass-catchers, there’s reason to assume the praise they’ve received early on in spring practice is more than just good public relations at work.

Take Braden Pegan, for example. The California native is fresh off serving as the No. 1 option at Utah State, where he recorded 60 receptions for 926 yards and five touchdowns, including three games with 100-plus receiving yards, and boasts the size at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, to compete at the highest level in the Big 12. Also, he reunites with his Aggies offensive coordinator, Kevin McGiven, and the wide receiver coach who previously recruited him in high school, Chad Bumphis.

That all sounds good on paper, but what speaks even louder volumes about Pegan’s impact on the team is the fact he’s already earned a spot on the team’s leadership council, which is voted on by the players.

“That’s one of those dudes that you wish you had 20 of them,” said head coach Morgan Scalley of Pegan. “He’s such a good kid, smart football player, athletic, can jump out of the gym. We’re excited to have him.”

Pegan isn’t the only one helping Utah’s returners understand the ins and outs of the team’s new offense. Shoels, who brings an understanding of McGiven’s pass-friendly system with him from San José State, where McGiven served as the wide receivers coach during Shoels’ first season with the Spartans, aids in that transition process as well.

The 6-foot-tall Las Vegas native also possesses an element of speed that Utah’s wide receiver room was missing last season. Coming off a season in which he recorded 13 yards per reception on 59 catches (768 yards total), Shoels should get a lot of passes thrown his way as the potential No. 2 option behind Pegan.

That said, there’s a group of returners vying for meaningful playing time this season as well. Larry Simmons and Creed Whittemore are two players who ended the 2025 campaign on positive notes; Tobias Merriweather, the 6-foot-5 senior who transferred in from Cal a year ago, has an opportunity to strengthen his rapport with Devon Dampier heading into his second season with the team. Daidren Zipperer could work his way into the rotation as well after missing a majority of last season due to injury.

Time will tell whether Mana Carvalho, Utah’s primary kick returner in 2025, and Ricky Johnson, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State, play their way onto the field in 2026. It’s worth noting the departures of the team’s top three receivers from last season — Ryan Davis, Dallen Bentley and JJ Buchanan — have opened up more playing opportunities for returners and newcomers alike.

With only so many spots to go around, though, there’s not enough room to cram every pass-catcher Utah has into the main rotation. It’s not the worst problem Bumphis and Scalley could have on their plate, though it does make spring and fall camp essential in determining the pecking order for the regular season.

“Everybody, every practice is ready to go,” Pegan said. “We’re all locked in. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what everyone does this year.”

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