In a surprisingly competitive race for Utah’s governorship, Democratic challenger Brian King is gaining momentum against Republican incumbent Gov. Spencer Cox.
According to a recent poll by Public Policy Polling, Cox leads with 35%, while King trails at 24%, followed by Republican write-in candidate Phil Lyman at 19%, and Libertarian Robert Latham at 3%. Notably, 18% of voters remain undecided, potentially leaving room for shifts before Election Day.
The poll also simulated a two-way race, excluding Lyman, where Cox leads King 45% to 32%, with 23% still undecided. King’s campaign, led by Gabi Finlayson, believes the race dynamics are shifting, particularly as independents favor King 47% to 35%.
King has been significantly outspent by Cox, with a spending gap of nearly 7 to 1. However, King’s team sees Lyman as siphoning votes from Cox’s base, possibly helping to narrow the gap.
Cox’s campaign, on the other hand, downplayed King’s chances and warned that a protest vote for Lyman could inadvertently benefit the Democrat. Despite these dynamics, no Democrat has won Utah’s governor’s race since Scott Matheson in 1980. While Cox maintains a strong lead, the involvement of Lyman and shifting voter sentiment suggest the race could tighten as Election Day approaches.
