Utah

Republican John Curtis will replace outgoing Senator Mitt Romney in Utah

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3 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Republican John Curtis will replace outgoing Senator Mitt Romney in Utah

Republican Rep. John Curtis won a three-way general election on Tuesday to become Utah’s next junior U.S. senator.

Curtis bested Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, a prominent environmental activist and mountaineer. He also defeated right-leaning Independent Carlton Bowen, who criticized him for not being sufficiently “pro-Trump.”

Curtis’s victory means that one moderate Republican will be replaced with another. In September 2023, Mitt Romney announced that he would not seek reelection, likely ending his career in electoral politics.

Romney had represented Utah in the U.S. Senate since 2019, while also serving as Massachusetts Governor from 2003-2007. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and lost to Barack Obama.

Utah, historically a Republican stronghold, has not elected a Democratic senator since 1970, according to the Associated Press.

A new center-right voice for Utah

Curtis, who once identified as a Democrat, has positioned himself as a bipartisan voice amid the complexities of contemporary politics. He has stated his support for Trump when the former president’s policies align with “Utah values.”

Throughout his campaign, Curtis emphasized key issues such as protecting public lands, increasing energy production, and fostering improved relations with China. His platform aims to resonate with a broad spectrum of Utah voters, reflecting the state’s combination of traditional conservative values and a pragmatic approach to governance.

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

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Utah

Utah GOP sweeps U.S. House seats, easily defeating Democratic challengers

Published

12 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Utah GOP sweeps U.S. House seats, easily defeating Democratic challengers

SALT LAKE CITY — A mix of old and new faces will represent the state of Utah when the U.S. House of Representatives convenes for a new session.

Republicans Burgess Owens and Blake Moore will return to Washington after winning reelection Tuesday, while fellow GOP Rep. Celeste Maloy was elected to serve a full term after winning a special election last year to serve out of the rest of Rep. Chris Stewart’s term.

The new face among Utah’s House delegation is Mike Kennedy, who defeated Democratic challenger Glenn Wright in the Congressional District 3 race to replace Rep. John Curtis, who ran for Mitt Romney’s Senate seat and won.

In Utah’s 4th Congressional District, Owens first won election to the House in 2020 and reelection two years later. On Tuesday, Owens defeated Katrina Fallick-Wang by a wide margin.

Moore, who has represented the state’s 1st Congressional District since also winning office in 2020, claimed victory of democrat Bill Campbell.

Maloy faced the most precarious challenge in returning to Washington, defeating primary opponent Colby Jenkins by just 176 votes in an election that eventually went to a recount.

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Utah

Utah Utes women’s basketball: Utah State matchup on Dec. 4 moved to Delta Center

Published

23 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

Utah Utes women’s basketball: Utah State matchup on Dec. 4 moved to Delta Center

The University of Utah women’s basketball team is set to make history by playing its first-ever game at the Delta Center on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., when it takes on in-state rival Utah State. Originally scheduled for the Jon M. Huntsman Center, the game’s new location offers a unique opportunity for both the team and its growing fan base. Utes Head coach Lynne Roberts expressed excitement, noting the increased support for women’s basketball and how the sport’s national growth makes this an ideal event to spotlight in the Beehive State.

“This is a great opportunity for our team, and for our fans, whose support of our program has elevated significantly in recent seasons,” Roberts said. “With the growth and popularity of women’s basketball nationally, this is a great showcase for an in-state matchup.”

Why Utes fans will soon find it hard to support the Utah Jazz

The game’s move to the Delta Center, previously known as the Salt Palace, is another milestone for Utah women’s basketball as the program gains visibility and attracts larger audiences. This season opener has already shown promise; Utah began the season with a commanding 105-52 victory over Southern Utah. Six players scored in double figures, with Gianna Kneepkens leading the charge, scoring 18 points in her return after missing most of the previous season due to injury.

Next up, the Utes will face Weber State at home on Nov. 7 before traveling to play Northwestern on Nov. 14, marking their first away game of the season. With a strong start and an upcoming game in a larger arena, the Utah women’s basketball team continues to showcase its talent and build excitement among fans in what could be a memorable season.

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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is expected to win reelection after his surprising endorsement of Trump

Published

1 day ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is expected to win reelection after his surprising endorsement of Trump

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is expected to easily win reelection in the deeply red state, but his surprising choice to back Donald Trump this year has voters wondering what they should expect over the next four years from a leader they long thought to be a moderate Republican.

Cox is favored to win over Democrat Brian King, a trial lawyer and state representative who served for eight years as Utah’s House minority leader.

The governor also faces conservative write-in candidate Phil Lyman, who urged his supporters to vote for him instead of Cox after losing the Republican primary in June. Lyman’s campaign threatens to pull some Republican support away from Cox, but it likely won’t be enough to affect the outcome.

While moderate Republicans have historically fared well in Utah’s statewide elections, Cox has recently sought to convince voters that he is more conservative than his record shows.

The governor bewildered voters and political observers when he pledged his support to Trump after the July assassination attempt on the former president. Cox did not vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020.

Cox’s sudden turnabout has risked his reputation with his moderate voting base while likely doing little to win over followers of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, many of whom booed Cox at the state GOP convention this year.

The governor has dug in his heels in the months since he backed Trump. He reaffirmed his commitment to Trump in September even as the former president faced scrutiny for ramping up rhetoric against immigrants — behavior Cox said he hoped Trump would abandon when he endorsed him in July.

House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, talks to members of the media at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, May 19, 2021. Credit: AP/Kristin Murphy

Cox also has appeared with Trump on the campaign trail and at Arlington National Cemetery, where each appearance was ensnared in a controversy. After Trump’s staff had an altercation with a cemetery official, Cox broke rules — and likely federal law — in using a graveside photo with Trump in a campaign fundraising email.

Trump has not in turn endorsed Cox’s bid for a second term in the governor’s office.

Polls statewide open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

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