Utah Senate race takes shape as candidates vie to replace Mitt Romney

The dust is beginning to settle in the crowded field of candidates vying to replace Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) after he retires next year, with more than a half-dozen Republicans seeking to take the first-term incumbent’s place.

The window for filings in Utah statewide races opened on Tuesday, giving prospective candidates six days to officially declare their intent to run. By the end of the first day, six candidates had already filed their candidacy to run for Romney’s seat with several others announcing their intent to do the same before the Monday deadline.

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The seat is not expected to be competitive for Democrats, as Utah is considered to be a reliably red state. The last time a Democrat was elected to represent the Beehive State in the Senate was 1970.

Therefore, voters can expect a crowded field of GOP candidates eyeing to take over for Romney, who was first sworn into the seat in 2018. Romney, 76, announced last year he would not seek reelection, citing his age as a primary reason.

News of his retirement sparked immediate announcements from some candidates, such as Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, who both emerged as early contenders in the race. Because of their swift announcements, the two candidates received a headstart on high-profile endorsements ans fundraising.

Rick Bowmer/AP

Staggs was the first to officially declare his candidacy last year, garnering the support of several local leaders and national Republicans such as Mark Levin, Harmeet Dhillon, and Charlie Kirk.

Wilson has shown strong fundraising prowess, reporting more than $3.2 million since launching an exploratory campaign last summer. The former Utah House speaker has also garnered support from more than 60 lawmakers in the Utah legislature, comprising three-quarters of the state House and more than two-thirds of the Utah Senate. Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) has also endorsed Wilson in the race.

But both candidates must now face their greatest challenger in Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), who announced he would run for the seat on Tuesday — making him one of the most prominent names in the field.

Joshua A. Bickel/AP

Curtis initially said he would not run for Senate last year, citing the endorsements his opponents managed to secure and fundraising from “people who might otherwise support me,” he told KSL TV. But Curtis later reversed course after he said several supporters approached him to reconsider.

“[There] were a lot of those voices who said, ‘You can actually serve us better in the Senate than you can in the House.’ And so without that, I don’t think I could have changed my mind,” Curtis told the outlet.

Curtis is likely to benefit from widespread name recognition after representing Utah’s 3rd Congressional District in the House over the last five years and the fundraising experience that has come along with that.

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Another big name in the race is Brent Hatch, the son of former Sen. Orrin Hatch, who served in the Senate for 42 years before retiring in 2019. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) holds that distinction as of last year.

Other candidates who have filed or previously said they intend to file include Carolyn Phippen, a former staffer for Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT); attorney Chandler Tanner; activist Ty Jense; accountant Josh Randall; Clark White; and Robert Newcomb. One Democrat has filed so far: Archie Williams, who previously ran in the special election for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District to replace former Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) last year.