Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off In Primary Debate

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The recent protests in Salt Lake City and racial equality were among the main conversations at the Republican Gubernatorial Debate.

The debate was held Monday evening, and brought all four of Utah’s Republican candidates for the gubernatorial primary.

Each was spread out across the stage to maintain social distancing.

The winner will go on to face  Democratic candidate and University of Utah law professor, Christopher Peterson in the general election in November.

The four candidates took to the stage at the same time protesters took the streets two days after another protest turned violent. The ongoing protests here in Utah.

VIDEO: "It would have been a good thing to have Dr. Dunn—who's perfectly qualified as an expert—to handle the situation. Instead it was politicized," said @JonHuntsman

GOP gubernatorial candidates go after @SpencerJCox during #utdebates @th_wright @GHughesUtah @KSL5TV #utpol pic.twitter.com/9IgHx9LJuT

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) June 2, 2020

After that, the largest back and forth of the evening was spent on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Education was also big topic, and what Utah needs to do to focus more funding on public education.

The debate was moderated by former KSL anchor Bruce Lindsay.

The primary election will be held on June 30. The Utah GOP primary is closed, meaning voters must affiliate with the Republican Party. The deadline to change party affiliation is June 19.

Unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party on Election Day.