MAKE YOUR CHOICE COUNT – VOTE IN THE GOP PRIMARY

IN THE LAST 40 YEARS, the GOP Primary winner has also won the general election. This means that the real election in Utah happens during the primary.

Don’t know who to vote for? The following evaluation of GOP candidates for state elections are shown below, with their stands on key issues that Utahns care about and how they fall in the spectrum – Ultra Right, Progressive, or somewhere in-between.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE HOW CLOSELY THEY ALIGN WITH TRUMP.

Take a look, and then get to a voting booth to have your voice heard this year!

UTAH GUBERNATORIAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Candidates

Spencer Cox

Greg Hughes

Jon Huntsman Jr

Thomas Wright

Philosophy and Issues

Spencer Cox

NOT SURE WHAT THEY REALLY ARE
MODERATE to SOME CONSERVATIVE to OTHERS

Greg Hughes

PROUDLY CONSERVATIVE

Jon Huntsman Jr

NOT SURE WHAT THEY REALLY ARE
MODERATE to SOME CONSERVATIVE to OTHERS

Thomas Wright

VERY CONSERVATIVE

Support for Trump

Spencer Cox

Wishy-Washy
Has moved back and forth between support for President Trump

Greg Hughes

No doubts where he stands
100% support for President Trump

Jon Huntsman Jr

Squishy
Has moved between support for President Obama to support for President Trump

Thomas Wright

Active in Trump re-election efforts
Supports President Trump

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE

Remember: these are the people next in line to be Governor

Spencer Cox
DIEDRE HENDERSON
  • Right-wing Utah State Senator
  • Championed the legislation to legalize Polygamy
Greg Hughes
VICTOR IVERSON
  • Washington County Commissioner, former public-lands policy advisor for Sen. Mike Lee
  • Is as conservative and pro-Trump as his running mate Hughes
Jon Huntsman Jr
MICHELLE KAUFUSI
  • Mayor of Provo
  • Unsure what she stands for on key policies
Thomas Wright
ROB BISHOP
  • Former U.S Representative for Utah’s 1st Congressional District
  • #1 Anti-Public Lands Congressman in the nation

CLEAN AIR POSITION

Spencer Cox
  • Invest in technology, telecommuting and transport.
  • Has received current/past contributions from oil and gas companies and PACS
Greg Hughes
  • Redistribute economic growth and support for inland port.
  • Has received past contributions from big oil and gas companies and PACS
Jon Huntsman Jr
  • Invest in electric vehicles, charge stations and electric engines for UTA
  • Has received past contributions from big oil and gas companies and PACS
Thomas Wright
  • Focus on solutions rooted in education vs government involvement
  • No past contributions from big oil but running mate (Rob Bishop) has

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

Spencer Cox
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers.
Greg Hughes
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers.
Jon Huntsman Jr
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers.
  • Make amendments to the Recreation and Public Purposes Act that would make U.S. Forest Service lands eligible for acquisition
Thomas Wright
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers.
  • Does not support PILT (payment in lieu of taxes)

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

Spencer Cox
  • Local control of education
  • Reduce over regulation and increase teacher wages
Greg Hughes
  • Local control of education
  • Increase innovation and early education programs
Jon Huntsman Jr
  • Local control of education
  • Support innovation and individualized learning with Tablets for each child.
Thomas Wright
  • Invest in the teacher. Higher pay, better resources
  • Invest in education and economic progress in rural communities

HEALTHCARE POSITION

Spencer Cox
  • Address high youth suicide rate
  • Scale back Medicaid expansion
Greg Hughes
  • Opposed to Obamacare expansion
  • Base Medicaid on household income
Jon Huntsman Jr
  • Address mental health issues especially suicide
Thomas Wright
  • Address mental health issues

CD-1 (Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, part of Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, Summit, Uintah, and Weber Counties)

CANDIDATES

KERRY GIBSON

DAVID MOORE

BOB STEVENSON

KATIE WITT

Philosophy and Issues

KERRY GIBSON

VERY CONSERVATIVE

DAVID MOORE

UNKNOWN

BOB STEVENSON

OPEN-MINDED/ CONSERVATIVE

KATIE WITT

ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP

KERRY GIBSON

Very Pro-Trump
Supports all Policy Direction of President Trump

DAVID MOORE

Very Pro-Trump
Supports President Trump’s corporate tax rates and strong stance against China

BOB STEVENSON

Pro-Trump
Supports some of President Trump’s policies but not his ways

KATIE WITT

Very Pro-Trump
Supports all Policy Direction of President Trump

CLEAN AIR POSITION

KERRY GIBSON
  • Past contributions taken from oil and gas companies and PACS
DAVID MOORE
  • Has not taken big oil money
BOB STEVENSON
  • Has not taken big oil money
  • Supports hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources
KATIE WITT
  • Fully supports Utah’s Petroleum Industry
  • Received larger $ donations from big-oil

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

KERRY GIBSON
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
DAVID MOORE
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
BOB STEVENSON
  • Open to new approaches to working with both sides to satisfy both the economic needs of rural Utah and the conservation and protections our Utahs Public Lands deserve
KATIE WITT
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
  • Wants a seat on the House Natural Resources Committee to push against environmental extremists and ecological activists

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

KERRY GIBSON

No Position statement found

DAVID MOORE
  • Limit federal involvement
  • Align higher education with workforce requirements
BOB STEVENSON
  • No specific position statement found. Just says he supports all levels of education
KATIE WITT
  • Disapproves Common Core and government aid for preschool/University
  • Supports Charter Schools

HEALTHCARE POSITION

KERRY GIBSON
  • As state agriculture commissioner, Gibson oversaw the awarding of licenses for Utah’s medical cannabis program
DAVID MOORE
  • Improve lower cost healthcare options
  • Replace Affordable Care Act with solution that puts healthcare decision with local government
BOB STEVENSON
  • Lower cost of healthcare
  • Lower prescription drug costs
KATIE WITT
  • Invest in telemedicine
  • Censured by Kaysville council for wanting to hold free concert during COVID

SD-10 (Salt Lake County)

CANDIDATES

LINCOLN FILLMORE (INCUMBENT)

RICH CUNNINGHAM

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

LINCOLN FILLMORE
  • VERY CONSERVATIVE
RICH CUNNINGHAM
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

LINCOLN FILLMORE

No Position statement found

RICH CUNNINGHAM

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

LINCOLN FILLMORE
  • Took money from HollyFrontier whose refinery is still not Tier 3 ready and other oil/gas companies and PACs
RICH CUNNINGHAM
  • Wants Clean Air Initiatives but no details given

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

LINCOLN FILLMORE
  • Supports Trump’s decision to scale back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah
RICH CUNNINGHAM
  • Increase natural resource development on public lands

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

LINCOLN FILLMORE
  • Equitable funding for education statewide
  • Fund programs like UPSTART, STEM and Tech colleges
RICH CUNNINGHAM
  • Limit federal involvement in schools
  • Properly fund educational programs

HEALTHCARE POSITION

LINCOLN FILLMORE
  • Voted yes for medical marijuana
  • Address mental health and lower suicide rate
RICH CUNNINGHAM

No Position statement found

SD-25 (Cache and Rich Counties)

CANDIDATES

LYLE HILLYARD (INCUMBENT)

CHRIS WILSON

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

LYLE HILLYARD
  • UNSURE
CHRIS WILSON
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

LYLE HILLYARD
  • Pro-Trump
CHRIS WILSON

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

LYLE HILLYARD
  • Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, etc.)
  • Since 1996 has taken contributions from oil and gas companies and PACS
CHRIS WILSON

No Position statement found

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

LYLE HILLYARD
  • Believes Federal Government should pay tax on public lands
CHRIS WILSON
  • Preserve Utah public lands for future generations

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

LYLE HILLYARD
  • Focus on high risk school children and counselors who can help reduce teen suicides
CHRIS WILSON
  • Provide teachers resources to innovate ways to teach
  • Ensure employment opportunities that allow children to stay in their communities

HEALTHCARE POSITION

LYLE HILLYARD
  • Begin juvenile mental health court
  • Voted against medical marijuana
CHRIS WILSON

No Position statement found

HD-71 (Iron and Washington Counties)

CANDIDATES

BRADLEY LAST (INCUMBENT)

WILLIE BILLINGS

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

BRADLEY LAST
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE
WILLIE BILLINGS
  • ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

BRADLEY LAST

No Position statement found

WILLIE BILLINGS
  • Very Pro-Trump

CLEAN AIR POSITION

BRADLEY LAST
  • Voted Yes on HB220 to authorize disposal of radioactive waste
  • Limit intrusive government regulations
WILLIE BILLINGS

No Position statement found

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

BRADLEY LAST
  • Supports Trump’s decision to scale back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah
  • Has taken contributions from oil and gas companies and PACS
WILLIE BILLINGS
  • Bring public lands back into Utah’s control at the cost of billions of dollars

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

BRADLEY LAST
  • Invest in education to maintain long term economic growth
  • Have teachers, parents and school boards make decision
WILLIE BILLINGS
  • Have teachers, parents and school boards make decisions

HEALTHCARE POSITION

BRADLEY LAST
  • Develop market-based alternatives to government provided healthcare
WILLIE BILLINGS
  • No Position statement found

HD-61 (Utah County)

CANDIDATES

MARSHA JUDKINS (INCUMBENT)

KENNETH GROVER

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

MARSHA JUDKINS
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE
KENNETH GROVER
  • ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

MARSHA JUDKINS

No Position statement found

KENNETH GROVER

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

MARSHA JUDKINS
  • Voted Yes to extend a tax break for refineries that have not begun producing Tier 3 fuel
  • Voted Yes to extend income tax credit for heavy duty vehicles
KENNETH GROVER
  • Focus on education vs forcing citizens to adopt green behavior
  • Wants to provide public transportation to and from Summit County to Salt Lake City

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

MARSHA JUDKINS
  • Limit federal involvement in schools
  • Give teachers autonomy and better resources
KENNETH GROVER
  • Invest in innovative individualized educational programs

HEALTHCARE POSITION

MARSHA JUDKINS
  • Lower prescription drug cost
  • Fund mental health treatment on par with physical health
KENNETH GROVER

No Position statement found

HD-56 (Utah County)

CANDIDATES

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON (INCUMBENT)

MERILEE BOYACK

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE
MERILEE BOYACK
  • ULTRA CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON

No Position statement found

MERILEE BOYACK

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON
  • Voted Yes to SB239: Extends a tax break for refineries that have not begun producing Tier 3 fuel
  • Voted Yes to HB 220: Authorizes the Disposal of Certain Types of Radioactive Waste in Utah
  • Has accepted donations <$1000 from oil and gas companies and PACs
MERILEE BOYACK

No Position statement found

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands
  • Ensure federal government compensates Utah fairly
  • In 2016, sponsored H.B. 287 establishing a public lands litigation account for a $14 million fight against the U.S. Department of Interior to get control of lands promised at statehood
MERILEE BOYACK
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
  • Believes Utah should be compensated by federal government

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

KAY CHRISTOFFERSON
  • Supports funding for smaller class sizes, higher teacher pay, and sufficient supplies in each classroom
  • Voted Yes to expand access to school breakfast in public schools
MERILEE BOYACK
  • Opposes mental health screening for school children
  • Believes parents should make educational decisions
  • Opposed to Common Core and Comprehensive Sexuality Education

HD-42 (Salt Lake County)

CANDIDATES

AARON STARKS

JORDAN TEUSCHER

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

AARON STARKS
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE
JORDAN TEUSCHER
  • VERY CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

AARON STARKS

No Position statement found

JORDAN TEUSCHER

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

AARON STARKS
  • Believes focus should be on education vs legislation
JORDAN TEUSCHER
  • Improve air quality but will avoid government intrusion and business-killing regulations

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

AARON STARKS

No Position statement found

JORDAN TEUSCHER

No Position statement found

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

AARON STARKS
  • Advocate for more funding for K-12 schools
  • Fight to bring more local control back to parents, teachers, and administrators
JORDAN TEUSCHER
  • Supports the restoration of impact fees on developers to ensure that surrounding cities and schools have the funds necessary to invest in the needed infrastructure to support the development
  • Invest in special needs education
  • Supports charter schools

HEALTHCARE POSITION

AARON STARKS

No Position statement found

JORDAN TEUSCHER

No Position statement found

HD-17 (Davis County)

CANDIDATES

STEWART BARLOW (INCUMBENT)

LEANN WOOD

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

STEWART BARLOW
  • VERY CONSERVATIVE
LEANN WOOD
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

STEWART BARLOW
  • Pro-Trump
LEANN WOOD

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

STEWART BARLOW
  • Current chair of the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Voted Yes on SB239 to extend a tax break for refineries that haven’t begun producing Tier 3 fuel
  • Has accepted donations <1000 from oil and gas companies and PACS
LEANN WOOD

No Position statement found

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

STEWART BARLOW
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
LEANN WOOD

No Position statement found

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

STEWART BARLOW
  • Supports public education
  • Have teachers, parents make education decision
  • Supports Common Core
  • Support Innovation and improvement in education delivery
LEANN WOOD
  • Supports fully funded and locally controlled public education
  • Support charter schools as long as they don’t compete with traditional schools
  • Focus on teachers, family engagement and student learning climate

HEALTHCARE POSITION

STEWART BARLOW
  • Proponent of free market approach and government out of health care
  • Protect children with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage
  • Support tax deductions for medical expenses
  • Eliminate government red tape that makes it difficult for small businesses to provide innovative insurance program
  • Voted No on Prop 3 Expanding Medicaid eligibility
LEANN WOOD

No Position statement found

HD-14 (Davis County)

CANDIDATES

KARIANNE LISONBEE (INCUMBENT)

JENNIFER HOGGE

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • VERY CONSERVATIVE
JENNIFER HOGGE
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • "100% Pro-Trump"
JENNIFER HOGGE

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • Voted Yes to extend a tax break for refineries that have not begun producing Tier 3 fuel
  • Voted Yes to extend income tax credit for heavy duty vehicles
JENNIFER HOGGE
  • Support policies that combine the interests of health, quality of life, and economic responsibility

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • Proponent of Utah control of its public lands at a cost of billions of $ to Utah tax payers
  • Ensure federal government compensates Utah fairly
JENNIFER HOGGE

No Position statement found

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • Empower parents to make educational decisions
  • Local decisions and innovation rather than federal interference
  • Opposes sharing student’s information with federal government
JENNIFER HOGGE
  • Make teaching a financially viable career
  • Reduce class size, allow veteran teachers to continue
  • Parents should choose education path

HEALTHCARE POSITION

KARIANNE LISONBEE
  • Voted yes to Prohibit a pregnant person from receiving an abortion, with limited exceptions
  • Opposed the bill banning conversion therapy. Believes LGBT youth commit suicide of their “homosexual lifestyle,” and that conversion therapy can save them
JENNIFER HOGGE
  • Opposes socialized healthcare
  • Opposes government interference in healthcare
  • Address mental health

HD-3 (Cache County)

CANDIDATES

VAL POTTER (INCUMBENT)

MIKE PETERSEN

PHILOSOPHY AND ISSUES

VAL POTTER
  • OPEN-MINDED CONSERVATIVE
MIKE PETERSEN
  • VERY CONSERVATIVE

SUPPORT FOR TRUMP

VAL POTTER
  • Pro-Trump
  • Supports Trump’s policies but not his ways
MIKE PETERSEN

No Position statement found

CLEAN AIR POSITION

VAL POTTER
  • Voted to extend a tax break for refineries that have not begun producing Tier 3 fuel
MIKE PETERSEN

No Position statement found

PUBLIC LANDS POSITION

VAL POTTER
  • Supports Trump’s decision to scale back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah
MIKE PETERSEN

No Position statement found

PUBLIC EDUCATION POSITION

VAL POTTER
  • Member, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
  • Strong supporter of public education
  • Voted for higher Education Legacy Scholarship Amendments which brought more out of state students to Utah for Higher Education opportunities
  • Voted for Education Grant Program that allows individuals to pursue a certification through a local technical college instead of incarceration
MIKE PETERSEN
  • Reduce federal and state mandates
  • Increase teacher training and pay
  • Implement effective ways to prepare children for careers, family, and life

HEALTHCARE POSITION

VAL POTTER
  • Voted against Cultivation and Distribution of Medical Marijuana
  • Voted against Medical Cannabis for Terminal Ill Individuals
MIKE PETERSEN

No Position statement found

The above statements are the opinion of People4Utah based on the positions of the candidate.