Spencer Cox’s campaign nabbed a $75,000 donation from the National Education Association according to financial disclosures.
The donation comes after the Utah Education Association’s political arm endorsed his bid for the GOP nomination for governor.
Cox campaign spokesperson Heather Barney said the sizeable donation from the nation’s largest education union is an acknowledgment that Cox would remain committed to education if he’s elected in November.
“No administration has been as supportive of students and teachers as the Herbert-Cox administration. Just as Utah’s classroom teachers supported Gov. Herbert in the last campaign, they are excited to support Spencer this year,” she said.
Cox has been leading the fundraising race according to a recent analysis from UtahPolicy.com, pulling in nearly $650,000 since the April Utah GOP State Convention. According to the most recent financial disclosures, he’s raised more than $2.1 million during the current campaign cycle.
Cox also booked a $25,000 donation from the Republican State Leadership Committee, a group that claims to be the “largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country.” The organization focuses on assisting Republicans in down-ballot races across the country.
Cox is the frontrunner in the tight four-way primary according to polling from UtahPolicy.com and KUTV 2News. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman is in second, followed by former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and former Utah GOP chairman Thomas Wright.
The four candidates are scheduled to meet in a live, primetime debate on Tuesday evening, broadcast by KUTV 2News.
