Utah lawmakers rally behind Romney challenger with numerous endorsements.

Utah Mayor Trent Staggs Gains Momentum as Conservative Alternative to Sen. Mitt Romney

A ‍Utah ⁤mayor is making ⁢waves in his bid to⁤ challenge Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) in the upcoming Senate race. Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs has ⁤positioned⁣ himself as⁣ the best conservative alternative to the one-term incumbent, and‌ he’s gaining support from a slate of local ⁣state legislators.

Local Support Grows for Staggs

A group of 11 ​elected officials and state‌ leaders have officially endorsed Staggs in his Senate campaign.‍ This includes backing from several local council ‍members, highlighting Staggs’s commitment to ⁣his small-town roots while running for statewide office.

Notably, ⁣two Utah mayors, Kelly⁤ Bush and Mike‌ Weichers, have thrown their‍ support behind Staggs. Additionally, five current or former council members throughout the state ⁤have praised Staggs ⁤for his conservative ⁣principles, which he plans to prioritize in his campaign.

“I have worked with Mayor Trent for a long time now on issues ‌facing the⁢ county, and I’ve seen firsthand the courageous lengths he’ll go to in ‌order to⁤ defend conservative principles,” said Sheldon Stewart, a councilman for Salt Lake ‍County. “When he gets to D.C., I know he will be ⁢a powerful ‌voice for Utah.”

Staggs has also garnered high-profile endorsements from national Republicans such as Mark Levin, Harmeet Dhillon, and Charlie‍ Kirk, as well as prominent GOP ⁢groups like Turning Point USA.

Challenges Ahead for Staggs

While Staggs is currently the only candidate who has declared ‌his intent to ​primary Romney, he may face tough competition from other local Republicans eyeing the coveted seat.

Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, for instance, has launched an exploratory committee and has already raised a record-breaking ⁤sum for a GOP Senate candidate in their first three months. Although Wilson has not ​yet declared⁣ a Senate⁤ bid, he has amassed over $2.1 million in cash on hand.

If all three candidates ultimately run, it could set the stage⁤ for one of the most competitive GOP primaries of the 2024 cycle.

Romney’s Uncertain Future

Sen. Mitt Romney has not⁣ yet announced whether he intends to run for reelection. While he has ​filed his reelection​ with the Federal Election Commission, his plans remain undisclosed.

Romney’s long-standing reputation as a prominent national figure, having served as the governor of Massachusetts ‍and the‍ 2012 Republican nominee for president, could‍ work in his favor if he decides to run again. However, his willingness to ⁣break with his party, particularly in relation to former President Donald Trump, has drawn criticism.

As the ⁢only Republican senator to vote to impeach Trump twice, Romney’s‌ chances in the reliably red state of Utah are uncertain. While the state voted for Trump ⁤in both 2016 and 2020, conservative anti-Trump sentiment is more pronounced in Utah compared to other red states.

Recent​ polling indicates that Utah voters are divided on whether Romney‍ should run⁣ for another term, with 47% in favor and 51% opposed, according to a poll from‌ the Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of ‍Politics.

Despite the uncertainty, Romney remains confident in his chances if ⁤he decides to run‌ again.

“I’ll⁢ make⁣ that assessment over the coming months, and sometime in the spring or summer, I’ll make that decision,” Romney stated. “I’m confident that I would ⁤win if I‌ decide to run. I’ll⁣ have the resources, and I believe the people of Utah would be with me.”

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