The 2018 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Utah, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. The primaries took place on June 26.
Incumbent Republican senator Orrin Hatch announced in January 2018 that he would retire and not seek reelection to an eighth term, making this the first open seat U.S. Senate election in Utah since 1992 and the first in this seat since 1905. This was the first Senate election since 1964 that Grand County voted Democratic.
The general election was won by Mitt Romney, who had been the Republican nominee for president in 2012 and previously was the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. Romney became only the third person in American history to be elected governor and U.S. senator in different states, and the first former major party presidential nominee to run for a new office since Walter Mondale in 2002.
Background Process Utah's 2018 U.S. Senate candidates had dual routes toward placement on the primary election ballot: (1) eligibility via win or second-place showings at a convention of delegates selected from party local caucuses; and/or (2) eligibility via obtaining sufficient petition signatures.
Taking the traditional route, the top two candidates for the U.S. Senate at any of the party state conventions (to be held in the latter part of April, 2018) would be placed on the June 26 primary election ballot. Also, any candidate who collected 28,000 ballot-access petition signatures would be placed on the primary ballot.
If no competitor achieved the above-mentioned alternate access to the primary ballot through collected signatures and a convention winner achieved sixty-percent of delegate votes, this candidate straightaway received his or her party's nomination solely via the older-style caucuses-convention system. Otherwise, a candidate would be nominated through receiving a plurality of votes in the primary election and thereby advance to the November general election.
Incumbent Orrin Hatch did not seek reelection.
Hatch to retire Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch was reelected to a seventh term in 2012. During his 2012 reelection campaign, he had pledged that if he were elected, it would be his last term. Hatch won his first election in 1976 in part by criticizing the incumbent's 18-year tenure. Hatch initially announced a re-election campaign on March 9, 2017, though he also said at that time that he might withdraw from the race if Mitt Romney decided to run. An August 19–21, 2016 poll conducted by Public Policy Polling found only 19% of voters wanted Hatch to run in 2018, while 71% wanted him to retire. On October 27, 2017, Hatch reportedly told friends privately that he was going to retire in 2019 and on January 2, 2018, made a public announcement of his plans to retire at the end of his current term in January 2019.
Republican primary
Convention Candidates
Nominee Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, Republican nominee for president of the United States in 2012, and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts in 1994
Eliminated in the primary election Mike Kennedy, state representative
Eliminated at convention Loy Brunson Alicia Colvin Stoney Fonua, tax accountant Chris Forbush, attorney and candidate for the Nevada State Assembly in 2016 Jeremy Friedbaum Timothy Adrian Jimenez, engineer Joshua Lee Larry Michael Meyers, attorney Gayle Painter Samuel Parker
Declined Rob Bishop, U.S. representative from (ran for re-election) Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. representative John Curtis, U.S. representative from (ran for re-election) Orrin Hatch, incumbent U.S. senator and president pro tempore of the United States Senate Mia Love, U.S. representative (endorsed Romney) Boyd Matheson, former Chief of Staff for Senator Mike Lee Evan McMullin, former congressional staffer, former CIA agent and independent candidate for president of the United States in 2016 (endorsed Romney)
Endorsements
Results State Republican Convention results, 2018CandidateFirst ballotPct.Second ballotPct. 1,354 40.69% 1,642 50.88% 1,539 46.24% 1,585 49.12% 163 4.90% 122 3.67% 100 3.01% 29 0.87% 7 0.21% 4 0.12% 2 0.06% 0 0% 0 0% Total
Primary
Debates + Hostnetwork Date Link(s) ParticipantsMittRomneyMikeKennedy KBYU-TV May 29, 2018 Invited Invited
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeKennedy MittRomney UndecidedDan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates June 11–18, 2018 356 ± 5.2% 23% 65% 12%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates May 15–25, 2018 295 ± 5.7% 24% 67% 9%
with Orrin Hatch Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error OrrinHatch Jon UndecidedDan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates January 9–16, 2017 605 ± 4.0% 21% 62% 16%
Endorsements
Debates DateHostModeratorLink(s)ParticipantsKey: Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Mike Kennedy Mitt Romney May 29, 2018 Utah Debate Commission David MaglebyYouTube
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County councilwoman and candidate for Mayor of Salt Lake City in 2007
Eliminated at convention Mitchell Kent Vice, businessman
Withdrew Danny Drew, director of adult education for the Duchesne County School District James Singer, Salt Lake Community College, Westminster College adjunct professor (ran for U.S. House)
Declined Ben McAdams, mayor of Salt Lake County (ran for U.S. House)
Endorsements
Libertarian Party Candidates Declared Craig Bowden, veteran and businessman
Constitution Party Candidates Declared Tim Aalders
Independent American Party Candidates Declared Reed McCandless
General election Candidates Ryan Daniel Jackson (I, write-in) Abe Korb (I, write-in) Caleb Dan Reeve (I, write-in)
Debates DateHostModeratorLink(s)ParticipantsKey: Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee WithdrawnMittRomneyJennyWilsonOctober 9, 2018Utah Debate CommissionBruce LindsayC-SPAN
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018Inside Elections November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018Fox News July 9, 2018CNN July 12, 2018RealClearPolitics November 5, 2018 ^Highest rating given
Endorsements
Polling Graphical summary
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MittRomney (R) JennyWilson (D) Other UndecidedUniversity of UtahUniversity of Utah October 3–9, 2018 607 ± 4.0% 59% 23% 8% 10%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates August 22–31, 2018 809 ± 3.4% 55% 29% 8%Tim Aalders (C) with 4%, Reed McCandless (IA) and Craig Bowden (L) with 2% 7%Lighthouse ResearchLighthouse Research August 11–27, 2018 2,400 – 59% 19% 9%Craig Bowden (L) and Reed McCandless (IA) with 3%, Tim Aalders (C) with 2%, other with 1% 14%University of UtahUniversity of Utah June 11–18, 2018 654 ± 3.9% 58% 20% – 21%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates January 15–18, 2018 803 ± 3.5% 64% 19% – 12%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates November 16–21, 2017 600 ± 4.0% 72% 21% – 7%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates August 30 – September 5, 2017 608 ± 4.0% 64% 26% – 10%
Notes
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MittRomney (R) JennyWilson (D) CraigBowden (L) DanMcCay (R) MitchellVice (D) LarryMeyers (R) AliciaColvin (R) JayHyatt (R) L'CapiTitus (R) TimothyJimenez (R) Other UndecidedDan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & Associates February 9–16, 2018 609 ± 4.0% 60% 14% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 2% 14%
with Mike Kennedy Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeKennedy (R) JennyWilson (D) UndecidedDan Jones & Associates June 11–18, 2018 654 ± 3.9% 43% 28% 29%
with Orrin Hatch Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error OrrinHatch (R) JennyWilson (D) UndecidedDan Jones & Associates November 16–21, 2017 600 ± 4.0% 50% 35% 15%Dan Jones & Associates August 30 – September 5, 2017 608 ± 4.0% 34% 45% 21%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error OrrinHatch (R) EvanMcMullin (I) GenericDemocrat Other UndecidedJMC AnalyticsJMC Analytics March 18–March 20, 2017 625 ± 3.9% 29% 33% 11% 10% 17%
with Chris Stewart Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChrisStewart (R) JennyWilson (D) UndecidedDan Jones & Associates August 30 – September 5, 2017 608 ± 4.0% 34% 30% 36%
with Matt Holland Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MattHolland (R) JennyWilson (D) UndecidedDan Jones & Associates August 30 – September 5, 2017 608 ± 4.0% 23% 30% 47%
Results
By county CountyMitt RomneyRepublicanJenny WilsonDemocratic Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total # % # % # % # %Beaver1,62076.0%29814.0%21410.1%1,32262.0%2,132Box Elder14,80378.2%2,60313.8%1,5218.0%12,20064.4%18,927Cache28,34471.0%8,85422.2%2,7056.8%19,49048.8%39,903Carbon4,38763.7%1,87927.3%6229.0%2,50836.4%6,888Daggett33576.3%8018.2%245.5%25558.1%439Davis86,84069.9%29,24923.5%8,1906.6%57,59146.4%124,279Duchesne4,52278.4%5699.9%68011.8%3,95368.5%5,771Emery3,03378.3%50913.1%3308.6%2,52465.2%3,872Garfield1,62676.0%38818.1%1265.9%1,23857.9%2,140Grand1,93544.6%2,13849.3%2656.1%-203-4.7%4,338Iron11,28671.4%2,84618.0%1,66910.6%8,44063.4%15,801Juab3,32079.9%49211.8%3428.3%2,82868.1%4,154Kane2,13568.5%74623.9%2367.6%1,38944.6%3,117Millard3,67279.6%51211.1%4299.4%3,16068.5%4,613Morgan4,14481.3%60011.8%3516.9%3,54469.5%5,095Piute52475.7%7711.1%9113.2%44764.6%692Rich91183.0%12411.3%625.7%78771.7%1,097Salt Lake207,71950.0%186,85645.0%20,8985.0%20,8635.0%415,473San Juan2,93454.4%2,09638.9%3636.8%83815.5%5,393Sanpete7,36779.6%1,13912.3%7468.0%6,22867.3%9,252Sevier5,81079.7%77110.6%7069.7%5,03969.1%7,287Summit9,17045.4%10,22950.6%8114.0%-1,059-5.2%20,210Tooele14,40765.6%5,49125.0%2,0579.3%8,91640.6%21,955Uintah7,94677.5%1,13511.1%1,17511.4%6,81166.4%10,256Utah135,24077.0%28,85616.4%11,4726.5%106,38460.6%175,568Wasatch8,12666.7%3,46728.4%5954.8%4,65938.3%12,188Washington42,60270.4%11,75719.4%6,15010.1%30,84551.0%60,509Wayne99973.6%26719.7%916.6%73253.9%1,357Weber49,45861.7%24,51330.6%6,2207.8%24,94531.1%80,191Totals665,21562.6%328,54130.9%69,1416.5%336,67431.7%1,062,897 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Grand (largest municipality: Moab)
By congressional district Romney won all four congressional districts, including one that elected a Democrat. District Romney Wilson Representative 67% 25%Rob Bishop 57% 36%Chris Stewart 68% 26%John Curtis59% 36%Mia LoveBen McAdams
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia Campaign finance at FEC Campaign finance at OpenSecrets
Official campaign websites Tim Aalders (C) for Senate Craig Bowden (L) for Senate Reed C. McCandless (IAP) for Senate Caleb Reeve (I) for Senate (Write-in) Mitt Romney (R) for Senate Jenny Wilson (D) for Senate