Tonight, in a fiercely contested Republican primary election, Utah Rep. John Curtis emerged victorious, winning the nomination for Utah’s vacant Senate seat and positioning himself to replace retiring Sen. Mitt Romney.
Curtis’ victory came in a tight race that included challengers such as Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who gained attention for his strong endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, who campaigned with the backing of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Known for his moderate conservatism and aggressive stance on climate change, Curtis campaigned on a platform of unity and pragmatic governance, and his victory underscores the Utah Republican Party’s preference for candidates who combine traditional conservative values with progressive policies.
The primary highlighted deep divisions within Utah’s Republican Party and reflected a broader debate over the party’s direction and its relationship with Trump, and Curtis’s ability to appeal to a wide range of voters, from staunch conservatives to independents, was crucial to his victory.
Curtis will now face off in the general election against Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, a well-known environmental activist and mountain climber.
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The general election campaign is expected to focus on environmental policy, with Gleich arguing for bold action on climate change and Curtis promoting market-based solutions to reduce emissions without undermining economic growth.
Utah has historically been a Republican stronghold, but hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1970, according to the Associated Press.
Jeremy Yurow is a Hawaii-based political reporter for the USA Today Network. He can be reached at JYurow@gannett.com or X (formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow).
