Former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, who is looking to run for the Republican governor’s nomination next year, has raised just under half a million dollars.
And he isn’t even an official candidate.
Hughes’ Leadership PAC had to file several reports this year, and his latest from a week ago shows contributions of $498,625.
He has spent $29,615. And so has $478,688 in cash on hand. That’s an impressive amount considering he’s not in the race, yet.
Hughes told UtahPolicy.com: “I have to show that I can raise contributions to even be in a position to be a viable candidate in a very tough race.”
Hughes has not announced his candidacy and has not set up an official campaign account with the Utah Elections Office.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox is running and has a campaign account.
But there are different reporting requirements for campaign accounts and PACs (something lawmakers may want to look into), so Hughes has to report and Cox doesn’t. Cox’s first report is at the end of this year.
As UtahPolicy.com published earlier, Hughes has gotten $100,000 from Kem Gardner, a developer/philanthropist who ran briefly for governor as a Democrat years ago.
He has $50,000 from former legislative leader Kevin Garn.
And $100,000 from current House Majority Whip Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, a home builder.
Utah has no contribution limits for state officeholders and candidates.
Cox has $50,000 from GOP Gov. Gary Herbert, Cox has announced.
Cox is also running a lengthy grassroots effort, he is visiting all 244 Utah cities and towns, and asking for small donations of $20.20 for 2020, or more.
There are a number of other Republicans either in the race or about to enter, including former GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman, who is of the wealthy Huntsman family, and can afford to self-fund if need be.
It’s not clear when Hughes will officially announce. Earlier this summer he said it would be early fall, but it’s November and no word yet.
But he clearly intends to do so. A real estate group recently sent out an email invitation asking supporters to a “meet the candidate” night with Hughes at a downtown beer brewery restaurant — Hughes won’t be drinking, he’s a member of the LDS Church.
Hughes said he didn’t see or approve the wording of the email, he was asked to attend a meeting of the group to talk about himself and his ideas. It is not an official campaign fundraiser, he added.
Hughes has hired Sage Political Solutions, a campaign consulting firm headed by Greg Hartley, who was Hughes’ chief of staff when Hughes was speaker for two terms, retiring the end of 2018.
