Utah Republicans release convention results in congressional races

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah Republicans released results Saturday from their state convention in four congressional races.

Utah Republican Party convention initial results:

CD1 Election Results:

• Stone Fonua 7 (1.5%)
• Dave Robinson 129 (27.3%)
• Riley Owen 337 (71.2%)

CD2 Election Results:

• Blake Moore 302 (33.7%)
• Colton Hatch 43 (4.8%)
• Karianne Lisonbee 552 (61.5%)

CD 3 Results:

• Celest Maloy 515 (50%)
• Tyler Murset 27 (2.6%)
• Phil Lyman 486 (47.2%)
• David Harris 2 (?%)

CD 4 Results:

• Seth Stewart 50 (5.2%)
• Isaiah Hardman 36 (3.8%)
• Scott Hatfield 105 (11%)
• Tyrone Jensen 13 (1.4%)
• Mike Kennedy 753 (78.7%)

A second round of voting in the 3rd Congressional District narrowly separated the top two candidates, with the final results showing a tight margin.

CD 3 Final Results:

• Celest Maloy 482 (50.95%)
• Phil Lyman 464 (49.04%)

The key race in the Utah Republican Party convention this weekend was between Congressman Blake Moore and state Representative Karianne Lisonbee, according to long-time University of Utah Political Science Professor Matthew Burbank.

“I think that’s the most interesting of the ones coming up,” Burbank said. “Do they go with somebody who is an incumbent, who is young, who is in a leadership position, or do they go with somebody who has been a favorite among state legislators and who has run a number of bills that really sort of reflect…the cultural, conservative side?”

Moore critics accuse him of helping to create the new Democratic heavy 1st Congressional District—born of a statewide proposition, legislative tug-of-war, litigation, and ultimately a court order.

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Moore advocated for an independent redistricting commission as a leader of the group Better Boundaries, but has reportedly said the commission should be advisory—not replace the legislature in drawing political lines—a legislature dominated by Republicans.

Lisonbee’s campaign promotes her “A+ lifetime NRA rating, 100% pro-life record, and championing school choice.”

Moore, a leader in the U.S. House Republican Conference, collected enough signatures to qualify for the GOP primary in June. Lisonbee has not collected signatures, which could endear her to a sizable number of Republican delegates who maintain they—not signers in political districts—should choose Republican nominees.

The other congressional race that could go to a primary is between Congresswoman Celeste Maloy and former legislator and candidate for governor Phil Lyman, who has made election integrity the center of his political profile.

Maloy has also qualified for the primary with signatures. Lyman declared his intent to collect them, but as of Friday evening, was well below the 7,000 required for the primary ballot.

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