Utah Republican Party delegates picked Trent Staggs as their preferred U.S. Senate candidate at a convention this weekend, but he and other hopefuls will still have to compete in a primary election in June.
Staggs, the mayor of Riverton, beat out candidates including former state House Speaker Brad Wilson and Rep. John Curtis, the founder of the Conservative Climate Caucus, at the Saturday gathering.
Staggs got a last-minute endorsement from former President Donald Trump before the convention and has been endorsed by far-right figures like Rep. Matt Gaetz and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake.
He’s presented himself as a conservative replacement for incumbent Sen. Mitt Romney (R), who is retiring and has been a moderate on some issues, including by acknowledging climate change and being open to potential policies to fight it.
