The 2024 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of Utah.
Incumbent Governor Spencer Cox ran for a second term, winning the Republican primary against state representative Phil Lyman with 54.4% of the vote; Lyman later mounted a write-in campaign for the general election. Cox won the general election in November, defeating Democratic nominee and state representative Brian King as well as Lyman.
This was the worst performance for a Republican gubernatorial candidate since 1992, which also saw a major independent candidate. Cox's 24.43% margin of victory was also the smallest since 2004.
Background Utah is considered to be a strongly red state at the federal and state levels: Republicans control all statewide executive offices, the entire congressional delegation, and supermajorities in both state legislative chambers. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump carried Utah by 20.5%.
Cox was first elected in 2020, defeating Christopher Peterson by 32.65%.
Republican primary Incumbent Republican governor Spencer Cox faced criticism from many conservatives for his moderate political positions, including his veto of HB11, and opposition to former president Donald Trump. Cox was booed at the Utah Republican state convention in April 2024. He faced a primary challenge from state representative Phil Lyman, who won over 67% of the vote at the convention. However, Cox collected enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Cox consistently led Lyman in polls and won re-nomination, though Lyman refused to concede.
Candidates Nominee Spencer Cox, incumbent governor Running mate: Deidre Henderson, incumbent lieutenant governor
Eliminated in primary Phil Lyman, state representative Running mate: Natalie Clawson, attorney Previous running mate: Layne Bangerter, former special assistant to the president
Eliminated at convention Sylvia Miera-Fisk, commercial pilot Carson Jorgensen, former chair of the Utah Republican Party (2021–2023) and candidate for Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2020 Running mate: Corrine Johnson, activist Scott Robbins, U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Declined Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. representative from Utah's 3rd congressional district (2009–2017) Robert O'Brien, former U.S. National Security Advisor (2019–2021)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 13, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handSpencer Cox (R)$1,263,235$2,142,975$645,543Phil Lyman (R)$1,408,004$1,051,850$356,153Source: State of Utah Financial Disclosures
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SpencerCox PhilLyman Other UndecidedNoble Predictive InsightsNoble Predictive InsightsJune 20–21, 2024432 (LV)± 4.7%55%42%2%1%HarrisXHarrisXJune 4–7, 2024477 (RV)± 4.5%62%25%–12%Noble Predictive InsightsNoble Predictive InsightsApril 8–16, 2024283 (RV)± 5.8%51%4%9%36%Dan Jones & AssociatesDan Jones & AssociatesJanuary 16–21, 2024428 (RV)± 4.7%50%3%11%37%
Results
Convention Republican convention results Candidate/Running mate Round 1 Round 2 Votes % Votes % /Layne Bangerter 1663 44.24% 2495 67.54% Spencer Cox/Deidre Henderson 1085 28.86% 1199 32.46% Carson Jorgensen/Corrine Johnson 970 25.80% colspan=10 style="text-align:center;" Scott Robbins 21 0.56% colspan=10 style="text-align:center;" Sylvia Miera-Fisk 20 0.53% colspan=10 style="text-align:center;" Inactive Ballots 2 ballots 4 ballots
Debate + 2024 Utah gubernatorial election Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Cox Lyman1 Jun. 11, 2024 Utah Debate Commission Carolina Ballard YouTube
Primary
Aftermath Lyman later sued, claiming that the Republican convention was responsible for selecting the party's nominee and that the primary was illegal. The Utah Supreme Court rejected his argument. Lyman later announced that he would run as a write-in candidate.
Cox has since backed Trump after an assassination attempt made during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, stating in a letter: "Your life was spared. Now, because of that miracle, you have the opportunity to do something that no other person on earth can do right now: unify and save our country." Cox also stated in a later news conference: “I am doing everything I can to help and support him...We will still have lots of disagreements, I’m sure, and we’ll still do everything we can to help the state of Utah and help the Republican Party be successful.”
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Brian King, state representative from the 23rd district (2009–present) and former Minority Leader of the Utah House of Representatives (2015–2023) Running mate: Rebekah Cummings, director of digital matters at the University of Utah
Endorsements
Libertarian Party Candidates Nominee J. Robert Latham, attorney, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2012, and nominee for in 2020 Running mate: Barry Short, businessman, perennial candidate, and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2016 and 2020
Independent American Party Candidates Nominee Tommy Williams, perennial candidate and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022 Running mate: Archie Williams, heavy equipment operator and perennial candidate
Independents Candidates Declared Tom Tomeny, businessman Running mate: William Lansing Taylor, geologist
Other candidates Republican write-in Phil Lyman, state representative Running mate: Natalie Clawson
General election Debates + 2024 Utah gubernatorial election debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Libertarian Write-in Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Cox King Latham Lyman1 Sep. 11, 2024 Utah Debate Commission Jason Perry YouTube
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportJuly 13, 2024 Inside ElectionsJuly 14, 2023 Sabato's Crystal BallJune 4, 2024 RCPJuly 13, 2024 Elections DailyJuly 12, 2023 CNalysisAugust 17, 2024
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 14, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handSpencer Cox (R)$2,415,468$3,782,382$158,370Brian King (D)$632,080$651,962$24,436Source: State of Utah Financial Disclosures
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SpencerCox (R) BrianKing (D) RobertLatham (L) TommyWilliams (I) Other UndecidedNoble Predictive InsightsNoble Predictive InsightsOctober 25–28, 2024695 (LV)± 3.7%43%26%3%3%18%6%HarrisXHarrisXOctober 15–19, 2024813 (RV)± 3.4%51%19%3%4%2%22%61%21%4%7%6%–Noble Predictive InsightsNoble Predictive InsightsOctober 2–7, 2024539 (LV)± 4.22%54%26%–––20%49%23%2%2%5%19%600 (RV)± 4.0%52%26%–––21%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)September 27–28, 2024612 (LV)± 4.0%45%32%–––23%35%24%3%–19%18%Lighthouse ResearchLighthouse ResearchAugust 29 – September 4, 2024518 (RV)± 4.31%48%27%7%4%8%5%HarrisXHarrisXAugust 2–9, 2024800 (RV)± 3.5%56%17%4%6%–17%59%19%–––22%
Results
By county Cox won 27 of 29 counties, with King winning the other two.
CountySpencer CoxRepublicanBrian KingDemocraticPhil LymanRepublican (write-in)Various candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%#%Beaver2,12067.75%2518.02%59218.92%1665.31%1,52848.83%3,129Box Elder18,42364.30%3,53512.34%4,68216.34%2,0127.02%13,74147.96%28,652Cache36,18560.27%13,06121.76%7,48312.46%3,3065.51%23,12438.52%60,035Carbon5,71061.31%2,09422.48%1,00610.80%5035.40%3,61638.83%9,313Daggett39172.81%7213.41%529.68%224.10%31959.40%537Davis95,67957.63%40,18124.20%20,10312.11%10,0576.06%55,49833.43%166,020Duchesne5,72165.24%7288.30%1,66418.98%6567.48%4,05746.27%8,769Emery3,25666.04%4699.51%95519.37%2505.07%2,30146.67%4,930Garfield1,91469.47%39314.26%34412.49%1043.77%1,52155.21%2,755Grand2,18643.67%2,43348.60%1703.40%2174.33% -247 -4.93%5,006Iron16,81461.50%3,96714.51%4,77517.46%1,7856.53%12,03944.03%27,341Juab3,82159.78%4917.68%1,69726.55%3835.99%2,12433.23%6,392Kane2,62859.93%85919.59%71716.35%1814.13%1,76940.34%4,385Millard3,70858.80%4997.91%1,70627.05%3936.23%2,00231.75%6,306Morgan4,29363.10%77211.35%1,37320.18%3655.37%2,92042.92%6,803Piute71876.06%535.61%14715.57%262.75%57160.49%944Rich1,08876.24%1329.25%1369.53%714.98%95266.71%1,427Salt Lake222,60844.07%220,36843.63%40,0357.93%22,0574.37%2,2400.44%505,068San Juan2,24135.94%1,99431.98%1,71527.51%2854.57%2473.96%6,235Sanpete8,05262.80%1,2409.67%2,76721.58%7625.94%5,28541.22%12,821Sevier7,34168.06%7777.20%2,16220.04%5064.69%5,17948.02%10,786Summit11,20243.94%11,43544.86%1,9527.66%9023.54% -233 -0.91%25,491Tooele19,82759.17%7,10421.20%4,07912.17%2,4977.45%12,72337.97%33,507Uintah10,20865.88%1,4289.22%2,61016.84%1,2498.06%7,59849.04%15,495Utah171,10057.25%54,53618.25%59,53119.92%13,6934.58%111,56937.33%298,860Wasatch10,04354.87%4,57424.99%2,99316.35%6933.79%5,46929.88%18,303Washington53,78656.08%15,97716.66%21,02521.92%5,1225.34%32,76134.16%95,910Wayne92557.13%28717.73%35421.87%533.27%57135.27%1,619Weber59,44353.74%30,80427.85%13,72612.41%6,6456.01%28,63925.89%110,618Totals781,43152.89%420,51428.46%200,55113.57%74,9615.07%360,91724.43%1,477,457
By congressional district Cox won all four congressional districts. District Cox King Representative 54% 29%Blake Moore 51% 31%Celeste Maloy53%28%John Curtis (118th Congress)Mike Kennedy (119th Congress) 54% 26%Burgess Owens
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Spencer Cox (R) for Governor Brian King (D) for Governor Rob Latham (L) for Governor Charlie Tautuaa (WI) for Governor Tom Tomeny (I) for Governor Tommy Williams (IAP) for Governor Phil Lyman (R write-in) for Governor