Congressman Curtis triumphs over Trump-backed candidate for Senate

Voters in Utah cast ballots in a slate of primary elections Tuesday, including in races for the seat held by Sen. Mitt Romney (R), who announced last year that he would not seek a second term. The winners of the Republican primaries are heavily favored to win in the November general election in this solidly conservative state that Donald Trump won in 2020 by more than 20 percentage points.

Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) is projected to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Utah, according to the Associated Press, defeating three other candidates — including Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who was endorsed by Trump.

Curtis had vacated his House seat earlier this year to run for Senate. He is favored to win the general election to succeed Romney, who announced last year he would retire at the end of his first term.

Incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloy (R) won a special election by a large margin last fall to serve out the remainder of Stewartâ€s term. Stewart resigned in September to focus on his wifeâ€s health.

Maloy, who once served as Stewartâ€s chief legal counsel, hopes to be elected to a full term but faces technology executive Colby Jenkins in the GOP primary. Jenkins has the endorsement of Sen. Mike Lee (R) and won the partyâ€s nod at the state Republican convention in April. Maloy, however, has the endorsement of Trump.

The winner of the GOP primary is favored to win the general election in November and represent the sprawling and solidly red district that covers southwest Utah.

Hard-right state Sen. Mike Kennedy is projected to win the Republican nomination for Utahâ€s 3rd Congressional District, according to the Associated Press, defeating four other candidates — including more moderate entrepreneur Case Lawrence, founder of the trampoline parks company CircusTrix.

Kennedy, a physician who opposed Romney in 2018 and who sponsored a bill seeking to ban gender-affirming care for minors, is favored to win the general election in November to represent the massive district, which covers much of the eastern half of Utah. The districtâ€s incumbent, Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), announced earlier this year he would vacate his House seat in order to run for Senate.