John Curtis wins against Trump-backed candidate in Utah GOP primary, Internet says ‘Mormons gonna Mormon’
UTAH, UNITED STATES: Representative John Curtis (R-Utah) will be the Republican nominee for Senate in Utah, succeeding the retiring Senator Mitt Romney (R).
Curtis secured the nomination after defeating his three primary opponents, including Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
John Curtis overcomes strong competition to secure GOP Senate nomination
Curtis was among four candidates who advanced to the primary following a state GOP convention in April, which narrowed a wider field of contenders. His primary victory came despite facing strong competition from Staggs, who also had the backing of conservative figures such as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Polls leading up to the primary consistently showed Curtis in the lead, though he had less than 50 percent support, with a significant portion of voters remaining undecided. At the state convention, Curtis finished second to Staggs, but he performed well enough to advance to the primary and ultimately overcame the challenge posed by Trump's endorsement of his opponent, reported The Hill.
Broad support and environmental focus propel John Curtis to victory
Curtis' campaign was supported by fellow Utah Rep Blake Moore (R), former Utah Rep Chris Stewart (R), and key organizations like the Republican Main Street Partnership and the centrist Forward Party. During his tenure in the House, Curtis founded the Conservative Climate Caucus, which focuses on environmental issues from a Republican perspective.
Known for his moderate positions on certain issues, Curtis voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified protections for same-sex marriage into federal law. He was also among the minority of Republicans who did not sign an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit challenging the 2020 presidential election results.
With his primary win, Curtis is now the heavy favorite to win the Senate seat in the predominantly conservative state, poised to follow in the footsteps of the more centrist Sen Mitt Romney.
Internet reacts to John Curtis' win
People online showed mixed reactions to John Curtis' win.
A social media user tweeted, "Imagine that! Trump endorsed candidates lose a majority of the Time!"
Another said, "There is some hope that some Republicans will stand up to Trump."
A third claimed, "Today, Utah voted 'NO' on trump."
"Oh well, Trump will still win in November," penned a user.
"Mormons gonna Mormon," read a tweet.
Imagine that! Trump endorsed candidates lose a majority of the Time!
— Emre Yurttas (@emrey35) June 26, 2024
There is some hope that some Republicans will stand up to Trump.
— David Veloz (@David747Heavy) June 26, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.