SALT LAKE CITY — Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs introduced plans to run for U.S. Senate subsequent 12 months and problem first-term Republican Mitt Romney in what may emerge as a aggressive major battle within the deeply conservative state.
Romney, 76, has not but introduced whether or not he plans to hunt reelection, however his transformation from 2012 presidential candidate to a recurring critic of President Donald Trump has led many to imagine Trump may very well be weak in subsequent 12 months’s Republican major.
“The only thing I’ve seen him fight for are the Establishment, ‘wokeness,’ open borders, impeaching President Trump and putting us even deeper into debt,” Staggs says in an announcement video that highlights Romney’s votes to question Trump.
Staggs, 49, is certainly one of a number of candidates anticipated to run to the correct of Romney and, within the announcement, manufacturers the incumbent as a “Massachusetts millionaire” who moved to Utah.
After a profession in securities buying and selling, Staggs was elected mayor of Riverton in 2017. He has targeted all through his tenure on typical municipal points together with policing, budgets, managing progress and spurring growth.
“That’s what I want to take to D.C.,” he stated in an interview. “As a mayor, I’m on the front lines of pushing back on government overreach.”
In the months main as much as his announcement, he’s grown more and more vocal on different points, spearheading resolutions towards “ ESG ” investing ideas and talking out towards library books he referred to as “pornographic” on Jordan School District cabinets final month.
Staggs’ announcement makes him the primary Republican to formally enter the race, although Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson arrange an exploratory committee in April, permitting him to lift funds towards a candidacy. Former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz informed The Associated Press in February that he was fascinated with working. A consultant for state Attorney General Sean Reyes has additionally stated many had been pressuring him to run as properly.
Though Romney has vocal critics in Utah Republican Party activist circles, his challengers will possible face an uphill battle owing to his widespread recognition as one of the distinguished members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as an individual who helped save the 2002 Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal.
Romney defeated a rightwing challenger by greater than 40 proportion factors in Utah’s June 2018 Republican Senate major earlier than profitable the final election by a margin almost as giant. He raised and spent greater than $4 million in marketing campaign contributions that 12 months.
Staggs stated he was assured he may overcome Romney’s nationwide title recognition, given his early conversations with Utah voters, notably Republican major voters.
“The question is whether or not Utah has a Senator in Romney who’s supporting them. So many have told me they don’t feel he represents them. They feel abandoned,” he stated.
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