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What to expect at the Utah GOP Convention

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What to expect at the Utah GOP Convention


Utah Republican candidates and delegates will convene Saturday at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City to determine who they want on the primary ballot in June.

Utah’s junior Senate seat, the state’s four House seats and numerous statewide offices, including governor and attorney general, are all up for grabs.

State delegates, who represent neighborhood precincts, will have the final say on whether convention-only candidates receive the party’s official nomination. They will also have a chance to signal whether signature-gathering candidates have the support of the party’s base voters.

Delegates tend to be more involved in the party and also more partisan than the general Republican electorate. This year’s delegate cohort is a different crowd from past years. Around two-thirds of them were elected for the first time during Super Tuesday caucus meetings, which were combined with a presidential preference poll that attracted registered Republicans that may have not participated in party proceedings previously.

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Candidates must receive at least 40% of delegate support in the April 27 convention — or have gathered 7,000 or 28,000 certified signatures — to advance to the June 25 primary election.

Here’s a preview of the gubernatorial, congressional and attorney general races. We broke down the Senate convention competition here.

Gubernatorial race

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox faces four Republican challengers in his first reelection test. State Rep. Phil Lyman, former state GOP chair Carson Jorgensen, Bountiful business owner Sylvia Miera-Fisk and Marine Corps artillery officer Scott Robbins have attacked Cox for not being conservative enough for deep-red Utah.

Cox has already qualified for the GOP primary by gathering 28,000 certified signatures. The other three candidates will be making their electoral appeal directly to delegates.

During his first four years, Cox presided over legislation banning abortion, limiting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, banning transgender students in female sports, and signed the largest cumulative tax cut in Utah history. He has also led initiatives on housing affordability and homelessness in the state.

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Lyman, a certified public accountant, has accused Cox of being too quick to compromise on conservative positions and of making Utah a quasi-sanctuary state for migrants who entered the country illegally. Jorgensen, a sixth-generation sheep rancher, has focused his criticism on the growing budget under Cox.

1st Congressional District

Rep. Blake Moore will face two challengers at the GOP convention, Ogden electrician Paul Miller and former Ogden police officer Derek Draper. Moore is the only candidate to have already qualified for the Republican primary by gathering 7,000 certified signatures.

Moore recently secured positions on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. These roles have allowed Moore to lead out on issues of spending reduction, welfare reform and a bipartisan focus on addressing the country’s debt.

Miller’s campaign has centered on improving border security, banning insider trading in Congress and combating “woke policy.” Draper has framed himself as an America First candidate who is a “100% supporter of our President Donald J. Trump.”

2nd Congressional District

Newly elected Rep. Celeste Maloy also faces two convention challengers — Army veteran Colby Jenkins and repeat candidate Ty Jensen — despite having been elected by delegates and primary voters just last summer to fill former Rep. Chris Stewart’s vacant seat. Maloy, Stewart’s former chief legal counsel, has placed her political future in the hands of delegates, choosing not to gather signatures.

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During her six months in office, Maloy has introduced legislation to transfer some federal lands to Utah, supported a warrant amendment to the government’s FISA 702 surveillance authorities and voted against further military aid to Ukraine.

Jenkins has criticized Maloy for caving to “the pressures of Washington, D.C.,” and said he will be a more accountable representative. Jensen said he represents a working-class alternative to a Washington, D.C., insider.

Sen. Mike Lee announced a surprise endorsement of Jenkins Thursday afternoon.

“Too many Republicans in Congress have voted to expand the size, scope, and cost of the federal government, in many cases deferring to congressional GOP leaders bent on advancing the Democrats’ agenda. Now more than ever we need bold conservatives in Congress,” Lee said in a press release.

Maloy, who recently introduced legislation with Lee, responded to Lee’s endorsement with the following statement given to the Deseret News:

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“President Trump called me last week — because that’s what he does when two of his cabinet level advisors endorse someone — and he asked me how I like being in Congress. And I told him, I’ll be honest with you, Mr. President, I like the job, but I’m sick and tired of Republicans losing because we fight each other harder than we fight the Democrats. And he laughed and told me I was right, and said he’s sick of it, too. And this is a prime example of why Republicans keep losing. When we agree on principle, but disagree on tactics. We go out and try to harm each other instead of trying to bring home wins for our constituents.”

3rd Congressional District

With Rep. John Curtis launching a Senate campaign in January, Utah’s 3rd District became an open seat for the first time in seven years. Nine Republicans jumped in the race.

Mike Kennedy is a state Senator. Kennedy, who won among delegates against Sen. Mitt Romney in 2018, has emphasized his conservative voting record and accessibility to voters. He is pursuing a convention-only path to nomination.

Chris Herrod is a former state lawmaker. He previously ran for Congress in the 3rd District in 2017, 2018 and 2022, beating Curtis in convention his first and second attempt. He is again counting on delegates to send him to the primary.

Case Lawrence is the founder of Sky Zone. He has emphasized his ability to successfully emerge from economic crises and “restore the American dream.” He has qualified for the primary election with 7,000 certified signatures.

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JR Bird is the mayor of Roosevelt. He said his experience with small-town government, business and agriculture qualify him to represent the sprawling 3rd District. He has also qualified for the primary through signature-gathering.

John “Frugal” Dougall is the Utah state auditor. Dougall pointed to his track record as evidence he understands fiscal issues and can get the nation’s inflation under control. He gathered signatures to qualify for the primary ballot.

Stewart Peay is a commercial litigator. He said his background in military intelligence makes him the most qualified on issues of foreign policy. Former Utah Rep. Chris Stewart endorsed Peay. He gathered signatures to qualify for the primary.

Kathryn Dahlin is a former Senate staffer. Dahlin said she represents a different kind of politician focused on family and responsible budgeting. She submitted signatures but fell short of the certification threshold.

Zac Wilson is the Utah Young Republicans state chair. He said his background in finance prepared him to address the country’s spending problems. He did not gather signatures and is looking to delegates to move him forward.

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Lucky Bovo is a former National Guardsman. His campaign message is to limit National Guardsmen from being deployed oversees. He did not gather signatures or engage in delegate outreach.

Attorney General race

Derek Brown, Trent Christensen, Frank Mylar and Rachel Terry are squaring off for the attorney general nomination. Brown has chosen to seek the nomination both through the convention process and signature gathering — he has already qualified and will appear on the primary ballot. Christensen, Mylar and Terry are only seeking the nomination through the convention process.

Brown is the former deputy chief of staff for Sen. Mike Lee and the former Utah GOP chairman. He practiced law at Mayer Brown and Sidley Austin LLP and has also served as chief legal counsel to former Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch.

Christensen is the chief of staff and general counsel for OmniTeq. He previously was an associate at Ropes & Gray LLP and served as the executive director of the Senator Orrin G. Hatch Center for Civility and Solutions.

Mylar started his own firm more than 20 years ago and focuses on constitutional and government litigation in state and federal courts as well as civil rights and religious liberty. He also worked for 12 years in the attorney general’s office.

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Terry has been an assistant attorney general and is currently the director of the Utah Division of Risk Management. She served as the deputy director for the Utah League of Cities and Towns and she also worked for the firm Fabian & Clendenin.

For previous coverage of the race, see this article and this one.



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NBA Insider Links Three Trade Fits for Jazz F Lauri Markkanen

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NBA Insider Links Three Trade Fits for Jazz F Lauri Markkanen


The Utah Jazz, to this point, haven’t shown any willingness to trade away Lauri Markkanen.

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Any lingering trade rumor around the league encircling Markkanen’s name has been met with the harsh reality that the Jazz hold their star forward in high regard, requiring a truly premier package to come their way in any event that they were to deal him away, an ask which has yet to be met by any team interested.

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However, while the Markkanen trade buzz has come to a bit of a stall, HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto recently pointed out that three potential teams have been linked to his services in the past if the Jazz were to truly try and shop their one-time All-Star in the near future: the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, and Detroit Pistons.

“Alot of teams have been linked to [Lauri Markkanen] in the past whether it’s the San Antonio Spurs, to get a four next to Victor Wembanyama, the Memphis Grizzlies after they made the blockbuster Desmond Bane trade because they have a lot of draft picks,” Scotto said. “And the Detroit Pistons because JB Bickerstaff was his former coach with Cleveland Cavaliers remains very high on him.”

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Spurs, Pistons, Grizzlies Linked as Possible Lauri Markkanen Suitors

All three teams mentioned not only have some intriguing fits with Markkanen joining their rosters, but they also have the potential assets on board in order to pique the interest of the Jazz front office.

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The Spurs have a load of future picks and a bundle of budding young players to offer up. The Pistons have a lot of young talent on their roster, are skyrocketing up the Eastern Conference, and have a connection to Markkanen’s former coach. The Grizzlies present what might be the most unique situation as a trade fit but certainly have some enticing draft capital at their disposal.

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Nov 5, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) is fouled by Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic (30) and forward Lauri Markkanen (23) while driving to the basket in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

As Scotto goes on to emphasize, though, is that the Jazz are committed to keeping their partnership with Markkanen ongoing, and rather than sending him off for a package of future assets, they are a player they want to build with long-term.

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“To my understanding, Utah wants to build around Lauri Markkanen,” Scotto said. “And what they want to do ideally is have a ton of cap space this summer, use it to make their roster better, if they are going to be in the lottery this year, they hope that is the last time for the foreseeable future.”

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“Lauri draws a ton of interest around the league, but right now Utah wants to hold on to him and really try to make a run for the future to improve this team and start to win.”

At the end of the day, the interest on Markkanen won’t be going anywhere across the league, especially as he continues to put together a career-best year this season of averaging nearly 30 points a night as the Jazz’s number-one scorer.

Right now, making a move to ship him out of Salt Lake City is not on the front office’s radar at the moment, but the second Utah ever considers pulling that trigger, several teams would be lining up at the door for a chance to grab him.

Be sure to bookmark Utah Jazz On SI and follow @JazzOnSI on X to stay up-to-date on daily Utah Jazz news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

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Opinion: What makes the ‘Utah Way’ a model for the nation?

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Opinion: What makes the ‘Utah Way’ a model for the nation?


As usual, Utah is leading the nation on key issues. We explore the importance of this and the political impact.

The Utah Foundation released a report stating Utah leads the nation in social capital, defined as how people use networks and social connections to benefit themselves and their communities. Why is this important to citizens and voters?

Cowley: Strong communities are the result of strong families and strong churches. Lucky for us, Utah has both. When social networks are robust, there is less need for the government to serve as a social safety net (more on this topic later). The holidays are especially tough. I encourage readers to reach out to that friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, send a “thinking about you” text to a loved one or ask your dad/aunt/co-worker/cousin/neighbor/sister-in-law how they are doing, but actually mean it. Sometimes small things have the largest impact.

Pignanelli: “Robust social capital translates into heightened economic prospects and lower demands on the public sector. The Beehive State is thriving, but we still have work to do.” — Shawn Teigen, President, Utah Foundation

The release of this study was significant for several reasons. In this acerbic political environment, we needed a reminder that Utahns are an amazing people. The elements of the “Utah Way” are reinforced by metrics covering civic engagement, social cohesion, health, community and economic mobility. For 12 years, Utah has been among the leading states for social capital, demonstrating a deeply ingrained characteristic of our people.

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Utah’s score is twice the national average, a mixed result that highlights our performance but also raises concerns about fellow Americans. Low social capital causes weaker economies and troubled communities, prompting legitimate bipartisan concern in the United States.

Local politicians need to address policies that continue this strength but at the same time take nothing for granted. Voters are hungry for such substance.

We should celebrate, but we should also share the secret of our success with other states. That is also the “Utah Way.”

Gov. Cox and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined forces on CNN to discuss the future of politics and what they are looking for in candidates to “lower the temperature” of political discourse. Will this have an impact on upcoming elections?

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, left, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox join hands at the conclusion of their conversation on the state of our politics today at the National Cathedral, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | John McDonnell for the Deseret N

Cowley: There is a lot of political rhetoric circulating about protecting the Constitution, but just as important is protecting the soul of our nation.

These leaders from opposing parties and different religious affiliations find commonalities in their devotion to faith and patriotism, but unfortunately share something else — the experience of leading their respective states through politically motivated violence with strength, respect for humanity and a desire to “disagree better.” It’s a reminder to show respect to those across the aisle as we are all Americans, endowed with the same unalienable rights from our Creator.

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This compassionate approach is where Cox differs significantly from Trump, and it plays well with Utahns who may support Trump’s policies but find his decorum lacking. Case in point: Trump’s vicious response to the murder of Rob Reiner. Not cool, Mr. President. Not cool at all.

Pignanelli: I consistently hear criticism from the left and the right toward Cox and his “disagree better” initiatives. When challenging these critiques, I never receive a rational explanation of why Cox is wrong. However, he provided the reason in his 2024 Republican convention speech: “You hate me because I don’t hate enough.”

Cox’s critics publicly and appropriately protest the vitriol directed at them by their ideological opposites. But they are frustrated that Cox is doing more than just “talking nice.” He is “walking the walk” by challenging all members of the political class (officials, pundits, media, etc.) to be respectful. Cox’s efforts will pay dividends through a subtle influence on the many voters who admire his admonitions.

Gail Miller announced a philanthropic gift from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation of $10 million for homeless services in Salt Lake City. Will this have an impact on homelessness in Utah’s capital city?

Gail Miller, right, acknowledges applause from the audience and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenahll, left, following Miller’s announcement of a $10 million donation to Shelter the Homeless at the Gail Miller Resource Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Cowley: Utahns’ commitment to neighbor-helping-neighbor is unmatched. It is families like the Millers that help make Utah special, and we are blessed to have them. Unfortunately, this problem cannot be solved with more money, by any one organization or by the government alone. It’s a community problem that requires community solutions.

Homeless Coordinator Tyler Clancy’s focus on cracking down on crime while connecting first responders with mental health resources will help cut the head off the snake. Rep. Melissa Garff-Ballard’s focus on connecting individuals to employment opportunities is also an important tool. But the most important intervention, as the Utah Foundation survey details, is family and neighbors caring for one another. This first line of defense can lessen the need for government to intervene after problems have festered.

Pignanelli: As someone who lives, works and recreates in Salt Lake City, I encounter homeless individuals every day. I hear their pleas for spare change and often clean the waste they leave behind. Along with other residents and fellow business owners, we yearn for a solution. The continued generosity of the Miller family and many other Utahns, combined with practical public policies enacted by officials, will make a significant impact.

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Judge grants bond to Utah soccer coach arrested by ICE

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Judge grants bond to Utah soccer coach arrested by ICE


The Utah man arrested by ICE and wrongly accused by Homeland Security of being a “sodomite and a child abuser,” was granted bond on Monday.

A hearing for Jair Celis was held virtually on Monday, with an additional hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Celis has been a popular soccer coach in Sandy, is married to a U.S. citizen, and has a baby boy who is also a U.S. citizen.

“The judge was very good,” said Adam Crayk, Celis’ attorney. “She just flat out said, ‘Look, I can’t consider something that’s a verbal representation. There’s been no filing here. There’s been nothing submitted to show anything other than exactly what his attorney is saying. And that is, look at all the years that he’s been here, look at all the people that are in favor of him.’”

Bond was granted for $5,000.

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Utah coach’s case escalates after DHS labels him ‘predator’ in viral post

Once the bond is paid, Crayk expects Celis to be back home in Utah by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Crayk says he still plans to seek legal action against Tricia McLaughlin with Homeland Security for insisting and publicly declaring Celis is a “sodomite and child abuser” when there is no evidence of that.





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