Four candidates are running in the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate in Utah on June 25, 2024: John Curtis (R), Trent Staggs (R), Jason Walton (R), and Brad Wilson (R). Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R) announced he would not seek re-election, meaning the office will be open.
All four candidates attended a candidate forum where they highlighted their policies on the economy and taxes. Lisa Riley Roche of Deseret News said the candidates “largely remained agreeable even as they attempted to highlight their differences.” All four candidates supported continuing measures in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act signed into law by former President Donald Trump (R) that will expire 2025. Curtis said he voted against legislation Trump proposed that he believes would have increased the national debt; Staggs said President Joe Biden’s (D) policies caused much of the national deficit; Wilson said his experience managing Utah’s budget would benefit him in the Senate; and Staggs said he supports a balanced federal budget amendment.
John Curtis is a member of the U.S. House, representing Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. Curtis’ campaign website says, “He believes that Utah families deserve to be heard and will continue to work hard every day to make Utah an even better place.” Curtis says he supports reducing government spending, increasing the country’s energy independence, limiting illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, increasing sanctions on China, and ensuring the state government owns public land in Utah instead of the federal government.
Trent Staggs is the mayor of Riverton, Utah. Staggs’ campaign website says he “is the only one in this race with a record of always standing up and fighting for his constituents by taking on the establishment through both words, and more importantly, action.” Staggs says he supports lowering taxes, reducing government spending and regulations, ensuring that the state government owns public land in Utah instead of the federal government, improving the country’s energy independence, and ensuring that liberal ideologies do not influence defense spending and education policies. Trump and the Utah Republican Party endorsed Staggs.
Jason Walton says, “I mentor Utahns as they pursue their American dream – the same dream career politicians treat with contempt. They send our money abroad while shortchanging our veterans at home. It’s not right. They’re letting drug cartels escort criminals and terrorists across our border. It’s time to stand up, so I’m running for the United States Senate.” Walton says he supports reducing federal regulations, promoting free trade, limiting illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, and ending corruption in government.
Brad Wilson was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2011-2023 and was Speaker from 2018-2023. Wilson says, “Our nation is at a crossroads. Our freedoms are under attack, and we need a conservative fighter with the guts to shatter the status quo and restore the values that have made our country great. Let’s take our country back, together.” Wilson says he supports lowering taxes on the middle class, reducing government spending, increasing parents’ roles in public education policies, limiting illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, and expanding gun ownership rights.
As of April 7, 2024, Curtis raised $4.8 million in campaign finances, followed by Walton ($2.8 million), Curtis ($2.8 million), and Staggs ($986,729).
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the U.S. Senate election in Utah as a solid or safe Republican race. These ratings indicate that the winner of the Republican primary will have a clear edge in the general election.