Utah Republicans head to competitive June primaries after convention

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah Republicans are heading toward several competitive June primaries following the state party convention.

Rep. Blake Moore will advance to a Republican primary after falling short of the threshold needed to secure the nomination.

“I have always been a convention-supported candidate, but today I’m asking you to make me the outright winner so that I will go spend the next six months making sure every American knows the difference between common sense and crazy,” Moore said, pointing to tax cuts and endorsements.

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Delegates instead backed challenger Karianne Lisonbee, who won more than 60% of the vote, sending Moore into a primary despite his signature-gathering effort to also secure a place on the ballot.

“There are always going to be results that you don’t anticipate,” Utah Republican Party Chair Rob Axson said.

In Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Celeste Maloy and challenger Phil Lyman also advanced to a June primary after a tightly contested convention vote. Maloy received 51% support, while Lyman received 49%.

Maloy emphasized her legislative experience and accomplishments in office.

“Experience and know-how really matter in this job,” Maloy said. “I’ve been doing the job for just a little more than two years. I’m passing bills that fix problems in Utah.”

“The stakes are high,” Lyman said. “I’m telling you, there is a game that’s being played, and we need to understand that the stakes are very high for our children.”

Axson said the close results are likely to energize voters ahead of the primary.

“I think it will keep people engaged,” Axson said. “We’re going to have a lot of people who are interested, and they’ll be leaning into these races and their preferred candidates.”

The Republican primaries are scheduled for June, when voters across Utah will make the final decision on the party’s nominees.

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