The Battle for the Governorship of Utah: Phil Lyman Challenges the Establishment on Election Security and Transparency

Background

Governor Spencer Cox was elected in 2020, and despite ongoing propaganda to the contrary, remains unpopular because of his tendency towards Left-leaning globalist policy and embrace of Leftist culture. He is regularly photographed enjoying the company of Democrats and has, as one example, introduced himself to middle schoolers with his pronouns. Cox has been called out on his Leftist tendencies by numerous national outlets and influencers, including the Federalist, Post Millennial, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump Jr. From allowing Denver to export illegal immigrants to Utah to vetoing a bill preventing boys from playing girls’ sports, Cox is not a conservative, and the Utah public is increasingly becoming aware of his true nature. 

During the 2024 election cycle, Cox lost to challenger Phil Lyman at the Utah GOP Convention 67.5% to 32.5%, and as such, failed to qualify for the primary ballot. Lyman emerged as the sole Republican nominee at the convention, while Cox sought to buy his way onto the ballot using the nomination petition process legalized in 2014 with Senate Bill 54 (SB54). 

In the June Republican primary, Lyman, who polled as low as 6% in January, took 45% of the vote to Cox’s 54%. However, continued obstruction by Cox’s Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson, who shares the ticket with Cox and oversees all elections in Utah including her own, has prevented release of documents allowing verification that both Cox’s nomination petition and primary results are legitimate. 

Nomination Petition

According to SB54, candidates for governor are required to collect signatures from 28,000 registered voters of the same party to gain ballot access outside of the caucus-convention process. Cox gained his spot on the primary ballot using this process. However, in Washington County, it was determined through the GRAMA (records request) process that signatures from another candidate were under criminal investigation. Cox used the same company as this candidate, and Lyman and others requested access to the names on Cox’s petition to verify their legitimacy. These efforts have been blocked at every turn, with lists returned 40% redacted. The relevant state agencies claim the redacted names are in the “private” or “withheld” categories, but by law, candidates such as Lyman are owed the “private” category while “withheld” is left to the discretion of the state. Lyman has openly stated that he does not believe Cox has the requisite number of signatures on file, but continued interference by Henderson prevents verification. 

SB54 Lawsuit

Lyman also filed a petition with the Utah Supreme Court challenging the fact that a Republican primary for governor was held in the first place. Based on previous court decisions about SB54, Lyman argued that the nomination petition process allows candidates to join a primary in which the Republican Party is participating when two candidates qualify via the convention process, but does not allow a signature candidate to force a primary when one would otherwise not have been held. Since Lyman won the GOP convention as the sole nominee, a primary would not have been held. The Utah Supreme Court, with four of five justices appointed by either Cox or his former boss Governor Herbert, dismissed the petition without ruling on its merit.

Election Results

Lyman has also used the GRAMA process to request access to elections returns including cast vote records, tabulator tapes, and ballot images. None of this information has any identifying PII, but LG Henderson published guidance to the county clerks advising them not to release any of the information. As such, the election results have also not been verified as legitimate, while Lyman collects affidavits from Utah voters about anomalies they experienced or witnessed during the election. 

Write-In Campaign

In light of all of this obstruction and interference, Lyman and running mate Natalie Clawson announced on August 12 that they would stand as write-in candidates, offering to withdraw if the nomination petition and election results could be verified as legitimate. Their campaign continues to draw significant support on social media while many establishment politicians flock to Cox’s aid. The battle is on.