Political Opponents For Utah Governor Release Joint Ads Calling For Civility

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It’s not something you’ll usually see during an election year: political opponents have joined forces for an ad campaign.

But that’s exactly what’s happening this year as two of the candidates vying to be Utah’s next governor are calling for decency during the election.

I’m not sure this has ever been done before…but as our national political dialogue continues to decline, my opponent @PetersonUtah and I decided to try something different. We can disagree without hating each other. Let’s make Utah an example to the nation. #StandUnited #utpol pic.twitter.com/Tkr2sDCYTB

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 20, 2020

Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and Democratic candidate Chris Peterson are releasing a series of joint public announcements to support civility.

“The time-honored values of a peaceful transition of power and working with those with whom we differ are an integral part of what it means to be an American,” Peterson said in a statement. “It is time to reforge a national commitment to decency and our democratic republic.”

Today @SpencerJCox and I are releasing joint public service ads on civility in politics. Working together and the peaceful transfer of power are integral to what it means to be American. Let's reforge our national commitment to decency and democracy. #utpol #standunited pic.twitter.com/jeUJ78aVor

— Peterson for Utah (@PetersonUtah) October 20, 2020

“While our national political dialogue continues to decline, Chris and I agree that it’s time we expect more of our leaders and more of each other,” according to Cox. “Utah has an opportunity to lead the charge against rank tribalism and commit to treating each other with dignity and respect.”

In the ads, the two politicians say they will support the results of the presidential election and they will commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

“We can debate issues without degrading each other’s character,” Peterson says in one of ads.

“And we can disagree without hating each other,” Cox adds.

In a joint interview on KSL 5 TV’s News at Noon, the candidates spoke about their motivation for the ad campaign.

“We were talking and just had this crazy idea: ‘What if we did something to try to show that even though we disagree we don’t have to hate each other?’ And it came together really quickly,” Cox said.

“People on the political left, people on the political right, we’re both part of the same country and neither of us are going away,” Peterson said. “So we can either get along and fix problems or we can fight and continue to have division and gridlock.”

While calling for civility, the candidates acknowledge that there will still be differences of opinion and approach on how to solve problems.

“We should have debate. We should protest. We should disagree vehemently,” Cox said. “But we don’t have to degrade each other and we can actually solve problems working together.”