SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—U.S. Congressional Republicans fended off electoral challenges in Utah’s June 28 primary, with U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R) sweeping the floor with his closest rival Becky Edwards.
With roughly 78 percent of the votes counted, Lee has captured over 60 percent of the vote and Edwards 31 percent. Ally Isom (R) received just over 8 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ.
While many Utah voters were ready for a change with Edwards, Lee enjoyed solid support among Republicans as a champion of conservative values.
No Candidates in Primary
Having no candidates in the primary, the Utah Democratic Party-backed Evan McMullin, an independent, who garnered 22 percent of the Utah vote against Donald Trump in 2016.Lee saw his staunchest opponent in Edwards, a former five-term Utah state representative, who ran as a unifier promising “better leadership, better politics, and better solutions.”
“Being a public servant means working tirelessly for our state alongside constituents and fellow leaders to solve problems,” Edwards said on her website. “That is exactly what I’ve done for my entire career.”
However, Lee clearly was the winner in terms of campaign fund-raising, garnering nearly $2 million. Edwards raised $1.2 million, and Isom $679,000.
Later in her campaign, Edwards became the target of conservative watchdog Project Veritas Action, in which Edwards expressed on hidden video her willingness to “stand up” for abortion.
In the footage, Edwards said, “I can absolutely guarantee you, I’m your best bet, and the only candidate who has even said anything other than, ‘joyful, happy, yay, answer to prayer,’ on what we’re seeing on Roe [vs. Wade].”
Economy and Inflation
Businesswoman Ally Isom promised a conservative “Pact With Utah. Vision for America” focused on fixing the economy and inflation.Four congressional races in deeply conservative Utah’s June 28 primary featured Republican contests and Democrats running unopposed for U.S. House seats.
In District 1, incumbent Blake Moore (R) handily won the GOP nomination with 60 percent of the votes. Andrew Badger received 25 percent, and Tina Cannon 15 percent.
Elected in 2020, Moore voted against President Donald Trump’s second impeachment but he voted twice to keep Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as conference chairman. He also backed legislation to form the commission to investigate the Jan. 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol.
With 72 percent, five-term Republican incumbent Chris Stewart trounced Erin Rider to secure the GOP nomination in Congressional District 2.
As a religious conservative, Stewart expressed his concern over the rise of socialism, threats to religious freedom, and the national debt.
Rider, a Salt Lake City attorney, and a conservative, saw the 2022 primary as critical to determining the future of the Republican Party.
In the District 3 U.S. House race, incumbent John Curtis (R) won his party’s nomination with 72 percent. Christopher Herrod (R) had rallied just 27 percent of the vote.
Since he took office, however, Curtis has been saddled with the second-highest approval rating among Utah’s four U.S. Representatives, voting with 34 other Republicans to establish the Jan. 6 commission.
This was Herrod’s second attempt to unseat Curtis in a statewide primary as a former Utah state representative.
In U.S. District 4, incumbent U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens (R) won with 60 percent. Jake Hunsaker (R) received 40 percent.
Hunsaker had hoped to oust Wright by promising to cut federal spending and enact congressional ethics reforms.
“It’s pretty clear to all of us that our nation is facing a moment of real crisis. Record inflation keeps families struggling to put gas in the truck, food on the table, and clothes on their kids’ backs,” Hunsaker told The Epoch Times.
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