The 2020 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Utah. Incumbent Republican Governor Gary Herbert declined to run for election to a third full term.
Background Although incumbent Republican governor Gary Herbert was eligible to run for re-election to a third full term, he initially announced shortly after being re-elected in 2016 that he would not run again, but indicated in January 2019 that he was open to the possibility of running again before ultimately deciding to retire and endorse his lieutenant governor, Spencer Cox. Utah had not had a Democratic governor since Scott M. Matheson left office in January 1985. This is the second longest active streak of one-party leadership, trailing only South Dakota, which had not had a Democratic governor since Harvey L. Wollman left office in 1979.
The primaries took place on June 30, 2020. The filing deadline was on June 19, 2020.
Description The 2020 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Utah, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
The winner of the election was the first non-incumbent gubernatorial candidate to be elected since Jon Huntsman Jr. in 2004, who ran in this election before he was eliminated in the primaries.
Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox won the general election by defeating the Democratic nominee, University of Utah law professor and former CFPB official Christopher Peterson. This election was the first open-seat gubernatorial election in Utah since 1992.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Spencer Cox, Lieutenant Governor of Utah Running mate: Deidre Henderson, state senator and candidate for UT-03 in 2017
Eliminated in the primary Greg Hughes, former speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Running mate: Victor Iverson, Washington County Commission Chairman Jon Huntsman Jr., former United States Ambassador to Russia, China and Singapore, former governor of Utah, and candidate for president in 2012 Running mate: Michelle Kaufusi, Mayor of Provo Thomas Wright, Republican National Committee executive committee member and former chair of the Utah Republican Party Running mate: Rob Bishop, U.S. representative for Utah's 1st congressional district and former speaker of the Utah House of Representatives
Eliminated at the convention Jeff Burningham, businessman Running mate: Dan McCay, state senator Jason Christensen, activist Running mate: Drew Chamberlain Jan Garbett, businesswoman Running mate: Joseph Jarvis, physician and small business owner Aimee Winder Newton, Salt Lake County councilwoman (Endorsed Cox) Running mate: John Dougall, Utah state auditor
Declined Rob Bishop, U.S. representative (endorsed Wright, who in turn chose Bishop to run with him as his lieutenant governor) Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. representative John Dougall, Utah state auditor Gary Herbert, incumbent governor (endorsed Cox) Mike Lee, U.S. senator (endorsed Huntsman) Greg Miller, former CEO of the Utah Jazz Sean Reyes, Attorney General of Utah Josh Romney, real estate developer and son of Mitt Romney
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RobBishop JeffBurningham JasonChaffetz SpencerCox JanGarbett GregHughes JonHuntsman Jr. GregMiller AimeeWinder Newton SeanReyes ThomasWright Other /UndecidedDan Jones & Associates/Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce June 17–24, 2020 1,247 (LV) ± 2.77% — — —30% —15%29% — — — 6% 19%Y2 Analytics UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News June 9–17, 2020 797 (LV) — — — —32% —23%36% — — —9% —Y2 Analytics/Cox for Governor June 13–16, 2020 691 (LV) ± 3.72% — — —34% —20%28% — — —9%9%Dan Jones & Associates/Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce June 1–10, 2020 676 (LV) ± 3.77% — — —32% —10%37% — — — 5% 4%Suffolk University/Salt Lake Tribune June 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% — — —32% — 10% 30% — — — 8% 17%Deseret News/Hinckley Institute May 25–31, 2020 643 (LV) — — — —28% —18%24% — — —4%26%Y2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News May 9–15, 2020 610 (LV) — — — —40% —18%34% — — —8% — April 25, 2020 All remaining candidates except Cox, Hughes, Huntsman Jr. and Wright eliminated at conventionY2 Analytics March 21–30, 2020 738 (LV) – — 5% — 39% < 1% 17% 33% — 4% — 1% < 1%Hinckley InstituteMarch 23–28, 2020326 (LV)± 5.4% —7% —24%1%7% 26% —2% —2% 32%Dan Jones & AssociatesFebruary 28 – March 11, 2020338 (V)± 5.3% —6% — 30%2%12%27% —4% —6%15%Hinckley InstituteFebruary 24 – March 1, 2020312 (LV)± 5.5% —7% —20%1%7% 32% —2% —1% 30% February 21, 2020 Garbett announces her candidacySuffolk University/Salt Lake TribuneJanuary 18–22, 2020246 (LV)± 6.3% —1% —18% –7% 26% —1% —1% 46%Hinckley Institute/Deseret NewsJanuary 15–22, 2020424 (LV)± 4.8% —6% —25% –3%35% —3% —3%25% January 17, 2020 Reyes announces he will not run January 13, 2020 Bishop announces he will not run January 8, 2020 Hughes announces his candidacy January 2, 2020 Wright announces his candidacyY2 AnalyticsNovember 19 – December 7, 2019457 (V) ± 4.6%9%5% — 41% –5%29% –5%5%1% — November 14, 2019 Huntsman Jr. announces his candidacy October 23, 2019 Newton announces her candidacyDan Jones & Associates/SaltLake Chamber of Commerce October 3–10, 2019 271 (V) – — 2% — 34% – 2% 30% — — – 7% 25% October 2, 2019 Miller announces he will not run September 10, 2019 Burningham announces his candidacy June 3, 2019 Chaffetz announces he will not run May 14, 2019 Cox announces his candidacyUniversity of Utah January 15–24, 2019 311 (RV) ± 5.6% 10% – 27%28% – 4% – 2% — 4% – 24%University of Utah October 3–9, 2018 291 (RV) ± 6.0% 11% – 25% 16% – 3% – 2% — 7% –36%Hinckley Institute/Salt Lake Tribune June 11–18, 2018 510 (V) ± 4.3% 9% –25% 16% – 3% – – — 9% –37%
Convention results Republican convention results Candidate/running mate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % / 1081 30.2% 1082 30.2% 1223 34.3% 1287 36.3% 1488 42.4% 1884 55.0% /Victor Iverson 663 18.5% 674 18.8% 719 20.2% 901 25.4% 1107 31.5% 1544 45.0% /John 'Frugal' Dougall 500 14.0% 508 14.2% 540 15.1% 703 19.8% 918 26.1% colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" Thomas Wright/Rob Bishop 489 13.7% 494 13.8% 553 15.5% 658 18.5% colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" Jeff Burningham/Dan McCay 487 13.6% 504 14.1% 530 14.9% colspan=6 style="text-align:center;" /Michelle Kaufusi 315 8.8% 315 8.8% colspan=8 style="text-align:center;" Jason Christensen/Drew Chamberlain 44 1.2% colspan=10 style="text-align:center;" Inactive ballots 0 ballots 2 ballots 14 ballots 30 ballots 66 ballots 151 ballots
Debate + 2020 Utah gubernatorial election republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Spencer Cox Greg Hughes Jon Huntsman Jr. Thomas Wright1 Jun. 1, 2020 Utah Debate Commission Bruce Lindsay
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Christopher Peterson, University of Utah law professor and former CFPB official Running mate: Karina Brown, community organizer
Eliminated at the convention Neil Hansen, former state representative Running mate: Brandy Farmer, candidate for Utah House of Representatives Ryan Jackson Zachary Moses, CEO of HeTravel.com Running mate: Nate Kizerian, community activist Nikki Pino Jr., youth counselor Running mate: Nikki Pino Sr., retired Army lieutenant colonel and father to Nikki Pino Jr. Archie A Williams, 2014 Democratic candidate for District 60 of the Utah House of Representatives III
Declined Peter Corroon, former Utah Democratic Party chair, former mayor of Salt Lake County, and nominee for governor in 2010 Scott Howell, former state senator and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2000 and 2012 Patricia W. Jones, former state senator Brian King, minority leader of the Utah House of Representatives (endorsed Peterson) Jim Matheson, former U.S. representative Ben McAdams, U.S. representative (running for re-election) Peter Metcalf, former CEO of Black Diamond Equipment Paul Rolly, former columnist for The Salt Lake Tribune Jim Winder, former Salt Lake County Sheriff
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error NeilHansen RyanJackson ZacharyMoses ChristopherPeterson NikkiPino ArchieWilliams III Other /UndecidedY2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News March 21–30, 2020 167 (LV)± 7.6% 11% 11% 7% 38% 28% 5% 10%
Convention results Democratic convention results Candidate Pct. 88.4% 4.7% 4.0% 1.4% 1.4% 0.1%
Other candidates Independent American Party Nominee Gregory Duerden, Wayne Hill, Vice Chair of the Utah Independent American Party
Libertarian Party Nominee Daniel Cottam, Bariatric Surgeon Running mate: Barry Short, businessman and Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Utah
Republican write-in Madeline Kazantzis ran for election for Governor of Utah as a write-in in the general election on November 3, 2020. She received 18,988 votes.
Declined Jon Huntsman Jr., former United States Ambassador to Russia, China and Singapore, former governor of Utah, and candidate for president in 2012
General election Campaign An advertisement that featured both major-party candidates, calling for civility in politics, drew significant media coverage and praise.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 23, 2020Inside ElectionsOctober 28, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 28, 2020RCPNovember 2, 2020270towinNovember 2, 2020
Endorsements
Polling Graphical summary
Polls Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin SpencerCox (R) ChristopherPeterson (D) DanielCottam (L) GregoryDuerden (IAP)OtherUndecidedY2 Analytics/Salt Lake TribuneOctober 15–24, 2020660 (LV)± 3.8%58%33% – – – –RMG Research/Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of PoliticsOctober 12–17, 20201,000 (LV)± 3.1%50%26%6%3%–16%Y2 Analytics/Salt Lake TribuneSeptember 26 – October 4, 20201,214 (LV)± 2.8%57%29%––14%–RMG Research/Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of PoliticsSeptember 7–12, 20201,000 (LV)± 3.1%52%19%4%3%–22%Lighthouse Research/Salt Lake Tribune August 31 – September 12, 20202,000 (RV)± 4.38%55%20%5%3%3%15%RMG ResearchJuly 27 – August 1, 20201000 (RV)± 4.0%49%17%3%3%–29%
with Spencer Eccles Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginJeffBurninghamSpencerCoxSpencerEcclesGregHughesJonHuntsman Jr.ThomasWrightOther /UndecidedDan Jones & Associates/SaltLake Chamber of CommerceOct 3–10, 2019599 (LV)± 4%2%26%5%2%33%4%21%
with only Spencer Cox, Greg Hughes and Jon Huntsman Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginSpencerCoxGregHughesJonHuntsman Jr.Other /UndecidedDan Jones & Associates/SaltLake Chamber of CommerceJun 11-Jul 1, 2019801 (LV) –37%8%43%12%
with Generic Democrat Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginSpencerCoxGregHughesJonHuntsman Jr.AimeeWinder-NewtonThomasWrightGenericDemocrat (D)Other /UndecidedDan Jones & Associates/SaltLake Chamber of CommerceJun 11-Jul 1, 2019801 (LV) –33%5%32%2%5%11%13%
with Bishop, Chaffetz, Cox, Dougall, Hughes, Miller, Newton, Reyes and Generic Democrat (D) Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginRobBishopJasonChaffetzSpencerCoxGenericDemocrat (D)Other /UndecidedDan Jones & Associates/UtahPolicy Jan 3–15, 2019 822 (RV) ± 3.4%7%18%24%11%39%
with Jason Chaffetz, Spencer Cox, Spencer Eccles, Greg Hughes, Ben McAdams, Greg Miller and Josh Romney Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMarginJasonChaffetzSpencerCoxBenMcAdamsJoshRomneyOtherUndecidedDan Jones & Associates/Salt Lake Tribune/Hinkley Institute Oct 10–13, 2017 605 (RV) ± 3.98%24% 11% 20% 9% 11%26%
Results
By county