Republican Jeff Burningham is expected to officially launch his gubernatorial campaign in the coming weeks. Ahead of that announcement, Burningham has brought on several veteran Utah politicos to help run his campaign.
Burningham has been traveling the state and meeting with voters ahead of his expected announcement. He’s also raised more than $580,000 in campaign funds during that time, although $100,000 was a loan to his campaign.
Adrielle Herring has signed on as campaign manager. She successfully guided Rep. John Curtis’ 2018 campaign.
Jordan Hess, who managed Sen. Mike Lee’s 2016 re-election effort, has signed on as field director for Burningham. He left a top position at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, D.C. to return to Utah for Burningham. Hess also spent more than 3 years on Sen. Lee’s policy team.
Another veteran Lee staffer has joined as Burningham’s communications director. Michael Jolley spent two years on Sen. Lee’s comms team, and will head up that department for Burningham’s 2020 effort.
Luke Searle will handle student outreach for Burningham’s team. Most recently he was the chair of the UVU College Republicans.
Burningham has also tapped Abby Evans as data director for his team.
So far, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox is the sole candidate in the race. Along with Burningham, former House Speaker Greg Hughes, Congressman Rob Bishop, Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, and real estate businessman Thomas Wright are also said to be considering bids for governor next year. Philanthropist Spence Eccles is also reportedly considering a run next year.
Former Governor Jon Huntsman is also rumored to be thinking about returning to Utah to run for governor again in 2020. Huntsman recently resigned as U.S. ambassador to Russia for the Trump administration.
