When former House Speaker Greg Hughes launches his campaign for governor on Wednesday, he will be the only candidate in the race not using the signature-gathering route to get on the primary ballot.
“I would only do that because I would be afraid I might not make it through the convention cycle, and I don’t really like doing things out of fear,” said Hughes in an interview with UtahPolicy.com. “I don’t like fear motivating my decisions. For me, I’m in it to win it.”
Hughes will need to get at least 40% of the vote from the 4,000 Republican delegates who will be selected in the party’s caucus meetings on March 24. They will vote to nominate one, or two candidates for the primary ballot at the party’s state convention a month later on April 25.
The five other candidates in the race are also seeking a spot on the primary ballot through the convention route. But, if they gather 28,000 signatures from registered Republicans statewide, they cannot be eliminated at the convention.
Hughes acknowledges he’s taking a huge risk by not pursuing the signature path to the ballot.
“It’s a high risk. I get it. But I think if we have a convention cycle and people vote their conscience in terms of who they want to see as their next governor, I will take that chance. I’ve always enjoyed the convention cycle.”
The 2020 election will be Utah’s third using the dual-path system approved by the Legislature in 2014. In 2016, Governor Herbert won re-election after finishing second in the delegate vote to Jonathan Johnson. But Herbert took advantage of the signature road to ensure he could not be eliminated by delegates after a strong convention showing by Johnson. Herbert beat Johnson in the primary.
In 2018, Sen. Mitt Romney narrowly lost the convention vote to State Rep. Mike Kennedy, but Romney had nothing to lose at convention as he secured the necessary signatures for a place on the primary ballot. Romney went on to defeat Kennedy in the primary election.
Hughes says he’s not abandoning the signature path to curry favor with delegates, many of whom are hostile to the alternate route to the ballot established under SB54.
“I’m not looking to be picked by default,” says Hughes. “If I can’t make it through that, I don’t know how it gets easier when you get into that crowded primary. I’m ready to put my faith in that process and be tested as a candidate and see how that turns out.”
Former Governor Jon Huntsman, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake County Council Member Aimee Winder Newton, former Utah GOP chairman Thomas Wright and businessman Jeff Burningham have already launched their campaigns. Retiring Congressman Rob Bishop and Attorney General Sean Reyes are also said to be considering joining the race.
UtahPolicy.com polling from Y2 Analytics shows Cox leading the field among Republican voters with 42%, while Huntsman with 29%. No other candidate won double-digit support.
