GOP Rep. John Curtis Defeats Trump-Endorsed Candidate In Utah Senate Primary

Rep. John Curtis has won the Republican primary in Utah, defeating Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson. Curtis, who has represented Utah in Congress since 2017, emerged victorious according to an AP projection, positioning him as the favorite to succeed retiring Sen. Mitt Romney.

Curtis’s victory is notable given the high-profile endorsements his opponents received. Despite trailing Curtis significantly in polls, Staggs had the backing of Trump, Sen. Rand Paul, and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump praised Staggs as being “MAGA all the way” and committed to the “America First” agenda.

Curtis’s political journey has been unique; he was briefly registered as a Democrat and ran an unsuccessful campaign for state Senate in 2000 before returning to the Republican Party in 2007. His steady support in polls and established presence in Congress helped secure his primary win.

In the lead-up to the primary, Curtis maintained a significant lead over his opponents. A June poll by Noble Predictive Insights showed Curtis leading Staggs by 20 points, and a HarrisX poll indicated a 23-point lead over Wilson. Staggs, despite his endorsements, could not overcome Curtis’s strong support base.

Curtis is now set to campaign for the Senate seat held by Romney, with strong prospects given his primary victory and widespread support. The upcoming general election will determine if Curtis can carry his momentum to secure the seat for the GOP.