The five Republicans running to replace Rep. John Curtis in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District voiced support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion. Where they differed during Wednesday night’s primary election debate was on whether the United States should continue to provide weapons, ammunition and other financial support, or even if America should honor its commitment to NATO.
Stewart Peay, the only candidate in the pentad to serve in the U.S. military, said America cannot afford to waver in its support for Ukraine, because it will likely embolden other countries.
“Right now, we see an evil block of Iran, North Korea, China and Russia coalescing against America and its interests. Ukrainians are on the front lines. We should provide them with the weapons and and ammunition they need to hold the line,” Peay said. “The one time they struggled was when we failed to support them.”
Roosevelt Mayor JR Bird said he was not in favor of providing more aid to Ukraine, but suggested the U.S. is not doing enough to punish Russian aggression through sanctions.
“Russia is laundering oil through Greece and India, and we’re buying those products. They’re being funded on the backside that way,” Bird said. “There is so much more we can do to starve Russia that we’re not doing.”
(Spenser Heaps | Pool) JR Bird, John Dougall, Mike Kennedy, Case Lawrence and Stewart Peay, candidates in the Republican primary for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, shake hands after taking part in a televised debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
State Auditor John Dougall, who has built much of his political identity around fiscal austerity, said it’s imperative that the U.S. continue to support Ukraine.
“Defense is the key reason for the federal government. We need to support Ukraine. I’d rather send bullets than boys. I don’t want boots on the ground,” he said.
[READ: Five Republicans vie for Utah’s empty seat in Congress. Here’s their views on abortion, immigration and water.]
Entrepreneur Case Lawrence said his support for Ukraine would depend on certain variables.
“I don’t believe in foreign aid. I believe in foreign investment and investment in American interests. Future aid to Ukraine will be based on facts on the ground and how those affect American interests,” Lawrence said.
(Spenser Heaps | Pool) Case Lawrence, a candidate in the Republican primary for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, takes part in a televised debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
That answer drew the ire of Peay who called out Lawrence during the post-debate question and answer with reporters.
“That answer tonight, we would have to make the decision based on facts on the ground. Ronald Reagan rolled over in his grave when he heard that. Ronald Reagan supported the people who are willing to fight for freedom,” Peay said.
State Sen. Mike Kennedy was sympathetic to the plight of the Ukrainian people, but expressed a preference for a more isolationist policy, saying America “cannot be the police officer of the whole world.”
When asked if they would have voted in favor of the $61 billion aid package for Ukraine approved by Congress in April, Kennedy was the only candidate who refused to answer, saying he had not read the bill. When pressed on why he dodged the question, Kennedy said campaigning gets in the way of boning up on the topic.
“If you’ve ever run a campaign, you have no idea how complicated it is. I keep in touch with the complicated issues of the day, but I am focused on marketing my message and winning this campaign,” Kennedy said.
The remaining four candidates were split on whether they would have voted in favor of the aid package: Peay and Lawrence were in the yea column, while Dougall and Bird would have been a nay. In April, Utah Reps. Blake Moore and John Curtis voted for the aid package and Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens voted against.
Kennedy was the only candidate who said he would not support sending American troops into the conflict if Vladimir Putin were to invade one of the NATO member countries, which is one of the provisions of the NATO treaty.
“When it comes to our NATO allies, we’ve agreed to support them, but that does not mean we send our young men and young women to give their lives for a foreign conflict that does not directly implicate our national security interests,” Kennedy said. “We can support our NATO allies without the blood of our young men and young women.”
(Spenser Heaps | Pool) JR Bird, left, and John Dougall, right, candidates in the Republican primary for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, take part in a televised debate moderated by Thomas Wright at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
Aside from foreign policy, Wednesday’s debate touched on a handful of other topics, too. The candidates agreed that the federal government did not have a role to play in addressing housing affordability. Instead, they said the government should work to reduce regulations to empower the private sector.
On the topic of energy policy, all five said the federal government should do more to incentivize all forms of energy production and slow down the push toward renewables.
“Americans demand reliable, affordable energy. And that’s what we should be providing. We need a free market with all of the above energy solutions, with green solutions and traditional sources that are reliable,” Dougall said.
