Utah governor looks to rebound in primary debate after harsh reception at GOP convention
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will debate his top challenger Tuesday in a personal matchup over healing from a defeat for the nomination at the state’s GOP convention, where he was loudly booed by delegates who argued that the incumbent president is too moderate to continue representing the state.
Despite failing to secure his party’s support, Cox is considered the overwhelming favorite among Republican voters statewide. The convention often favors far-right candidates and is expected to back challenger Phil Lyman, a former county commissioner turned state lawmaker.
Cox had already qualified for the June 25 primary by collecting signatures before the April convention. He is now trying to get his message across to voters uninterrupted, after going off-script to address his harsh reception by Republican delegates.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic candidate Brian King, a state representative, in November. That Republican candidate is heavily favored to win in a deep-red state that hasn’t had a Democrat in the governor’s office since 1985.
Tuesday marks the midpoint of a marathon week of Republican primaries in the Beehive State. Candidates for the public office of state attorney general will also be in debate earlier in the day.
The challengers for two of utah’s four congressional seats faced off on monday, followed by the four Republicans are vying for the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Mitt Romney. On Wednesday, a crowded group of candidates vying for the only open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will debate.
Cox’s socially conscious conservatism has led to occasional sparring with Republican legislative leaders since taking office in 2021 and has at times put him at odds with the national party, which has moved further to the right. As chairman of the National Governors Association, he has urged state and federal leaders to work together across party lines to find common ground. He has also criticized former President Donald Trump and expressed his desire for another Republican candidate earlier this year.
In non-election years, Cox vetoed several conservative bills, including one ban on transgender athletes which he said targeted a very small number of vulnerable children who were already at high risk of suicide. The legislature quickly that veto was overridden.
Utah’s LGBTQ+ community has since criticized Cox for what some see as a drop in support as he faces re-election.
This year, Cox adopted a policy banning transgender people from toilets that match their gender identityand another banning diversity training and inclusion programs on college campuses. He is backing a U.S. Senate candidate who has supported Trump’s re-election bid and for the first time this year he has not declared June Pride monthand instead opted for what he called a “Bridge Building Month.”
Lyman and other critics have accused Cox of supporting certain groups and causes only when it is politically convenient. The governor has defended his record and emphasized that he has made tough decisions with compassion for all. He has used the office to advocate for expanding mental health resources, and he has done just that taken against social media giants which he claims is harming the youth of the state.
His challenger is best known for organizing an illegal ATV ride in protest against a federal land decision. The 2014 protest ride came after federal officials closed a canyon in southeastern Utah to motorized vehicles to protect Native American cliff dwellings, artifacts and burial grounds. Lyman argued that the closure constituted an overreach by the federal government.
A judge sentenced him in 2015 to 10 days in jail and three years of probation after a jury found him guilty of criminal mischief, illegal use of ATVs and conspiracy. Trump later pardoned Lyman in December 2020 and expunged the conviction from his record.
Lyman has mentioned his short sentence in many campaign speeches and has vowed to continue fighting the federal overreach if elected.