Trump-aligned Candidate Pulls Off Surprise Win at Utah GOP Convention

Step one for Phil Lyman is complete, but now we just have to see what that actually means for voters.

Earlier today, we had reported that Trump’s pick to replace Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) made it through the crowded early field to have his name placed on the primary ballot.

Lyman just did the same thing, pulling off a bit of an upset at the GOP Utah state convention.

Surprise!

When the convention voted this weekend, Lyman snatched 67.54% of the voting, followed by 32.46% for incumbent Governor Spencer Cox.

That is only one step of the process, however.

Candidates need to either surpass 60% of the voting threshold at the convention or receive at least 28,000 certified signatures to be placed on the primary ballot.

Cox has 28,006, so he is safely on the ballot come June.

If Lyman’s name sounds familiar, it is because Trump pardoned him in December 2020 just prior to leaving office.

Lyman had been convicted of trespassing during an incident to protest the federal management of state lands.

Lyman was greeted with cheers during the state convention, whereas Cox received a very loud chorus of boos, but it did not deter him.

Cox responded, “I love you guys.

“Maybe you’re upset that I signed the largest tax cut in Utah history. Maybe you hate that I signed constitutional carry.

“Maybe you hate that I signed the most pro-life legislation in Utah history. Maybe you hate that I sent troops to the border.

“Maybe you hate the 60 lawsuits we filed against President Biden in this administration. Maybe you hate that we stopped DEI and ESG and CRT.

“Or maybe it’s something much more cynical. Maybe you hate that I don’t hate enough.”

Even though Cox was dominated by Lyman at the convention, he is still expected to be the favorite when it comes to the actual vote.

In the latest Noble Predictive Insights, Cox was leading Lyman 51-4%, so this race does not appear it will be anywhere close to what the state GOP convention turned out.

This will be a true test of Trump's endorsement power come June.