DeSantis aims to gain support in conservative Utah, where Trump skepticism prevails.

Utah’s Presidential‍ Primary: A Battle for the ‌Republican Nominee

In the upcoming ⁢November 2024⁣ presidential election, Utah’s six electoral votes‍ are almost guaranteed to go‍ to a‌ Republican ⁣candidate. ‌However, the question of who that nominee will be remains unanswered, and it will be ​determined during the state’s GOP primary on March 5, 2024. This primary is one of‍ 15 contests taking place ‌nationwide on “Super Tuesday.”

With seven months to go ⁢before the caucus clash,⁣ it seems ⁢that Utah voters ‌are‍ not⁣ particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing former President Donald Trump’s name on the ‌ballot. This ⁤presents a glimmer of opportunity for the dozen candidates struggling to gain traction against the ⁢dominant frontrunner in the GOP presidential race.

Florida⁤ Governor Ron DeSantis, one ‍of the underdog⁣ candidates seeking to ​derail Trump’s 2024 presidential drive, recognizes‍ this opportunity. He recently made two campaign appearances in the Salt Lake City⁣ area, aiming to win over Utah ‍voters and weaken‌ Trump’s path to the ⁣nomination.

“The more people see Gov.⁣ DeSantis and hear ‍his forward-thinking plan for our nation’s comeback, ⁣the more inspired ​they‍ become to vote for him for president,” said DeSantis’s campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo.

This is not DeSantis’s first visit⁣ to Utah. ‍In April, even before officially ⁤declaring his candidacy, he was​ the keynote speaker at the Republican ​Party‌ State Convention. During his‌ speech, he ⁢referred to Florida as the “Utah of the Southeast,” emphasizing the state’s importance in the‌ presidential race.

Utah: A Stronghold of Republican Support

Utah is known as one of the most conservative ​states in the country. Republicans hold supermajorities in the ​state ⁢Legislature, and a ​Democrat has not been ⁢elected governor⁤ since 1980.

For over​ 80 years,⁣ Utah voters have consistently elected Republicans to ⁢Congress. The last ‍time a⁢ Utah Democrat won a congressional race was in ⁢2018,‌ and ⁢even‍ then, it was‍ only for one⁣ term.

When it comes to presidential⁣ elections, Utah has consistently voted⁣ for Republican candidates. However, there has been some⁣ hesitation towards Donald Trump. In the 2016 Republican presidential caucuses, he finished third behind Ted Cruz and John Kasich. Although he ultimately won the state⁤ in ⁣the ⁢general⁣ election, his‍ percentage of the⁤ overall vote was lower than ‌previous Republican candidates.

This shortfall was partly due to the independent candidacy of Evan McMullin, a conservative and former Republican. In Utah, McMullin received⁢ a significant ⁣portion of the vote, primarily from Mormon voters who were critical of Trump. McMullin’s performance was the‍ best by a⁢ third-party candidate in ‌any single⁣ state since 1992.

In the 2020 election, without⁣ any primary challenges or third-party ⁢presence, Trump easily‍ defeated Joe ⁢Biden‌ in Utah. However, Biden’s percentage⁣ of the ⁤vote was the highest for a Democratic presidential nominee since 1964.

Utah’s Trump Critics

Utah is home to prominent Republicans who ⁢have been vocal ‌in⁣ their⁤ criticism‌ of Donald Trump. Senator Mitt Romney, in particular, ⁤has‌ been ‍one of the‌ former president’s most outspoken detractors. ⁣Despite facing denouncements from the MAGA wing of the party, Romney ⁢remains popular among Utahans and is expected to secure reelection⁣ in 2024.

Governor Spencer⁣ Cox ⁣has⁢ also been‍ critical of ‌Trump, holding him responsible for the Capitol breach on⁣ January 6, 2021. Cox believes that Trump is willing to bring‌ down the party if he doesn’t receive the nomination.

As the chairman of the National Governors Association,⁣ Cox has advocated ⁤for Republican governors to ‍run for president. He was among the GOP‌ governors who encouraged Ron DeSantis to ⁢enter the ⁤2024 race. While Cox has not officially endorsed DeSantis or any other candidate, ‍he looks forward to welcoming DeSantis to Utah.

DeSantis is scheduled to meet with ⁤Cox and several state ‌lawmakers who⁢ will endorse him at the State Capitol in ​Salt Lake City. Notable among these lawmakers are Senate President Stuart Adams,​ Senator Todd Weiler, and House Majority Leader Mike Schultz.

Utah’s ​Republican primary will be a battleground for ‍the party’s nomination, and⁣ the outcome will have significant implications for the 2024 presidential election.