Utah’s Republican Party is in turmoil, with accusations flying over election integrity and candidate qualifications. Recently, GOP hopeful Phil Lyman attempted to remove Governor Spencer Cox from his post, claiming he was the rightful candidate after a narrow primary loss.
In the April convention, Lyman secured 67% of the caucus vote but fell short in the June primary, losing to the incumbent Cox by 9 points—54% to 45%, a difference exceeding 37,000 votes.
Utah’s elections allow candidates to qualify for the primary by either going through the caucus system or gathering signatures. Lyman, representing himself in court, challenged the validity of signatures collected for Cox’s campaign. He argued that according to state party rules, a candidate receiving over 60% at the convention should automatically become the nominee.
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The Utah Supreme Court dismissed Lyman’s claims, stating he failed to provide evidence that party rules could override state law. Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, who Lyman also sought to remove, criticized his legal moves as “frivolous.” She stated, “Lyman is the one trying to steal an election, demanding the Supreme Court name him the winner of a race he lost.”
Henderson emphasized, “Elections are won at the ballot box, not through the courts,” calling Lyman’s actions a threat to democratic principles.
Undeterred, Lyman announced plans to run as a write-in candidate for the gubernatorial election in November, alleging that Cox and Henderson were blocking access to crucial nomination records. “Corruption is running rampant in Utah,” he stated, questioning the legitimacy of the primary results.
In the midst of this political drama, Governor Cox recently endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 election, shifting his previous stance of not supporting the former president. He cited the recent assassination attempt against Trump as a catalyst for his change of heart, inviting unity among Republicans.
This November, Cox will face Democratic challenger Brian King in the upcoming gubernatorial race. The events unfolding within Utah’s GOP highlight the increasing tensions and unresolved issues within the party as the election approaches.