SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Derek Kitchen conceded his Senate seat race after a narrow loss Tuesday afternoon.

The incumbent from Utah Senate district 7 tweeted that he lost the election by 61 votes to challenger Dr. Jennifer Plumb.

“It was a nailbiter for sure, ” Kitchen said. “While I am obviously disappointed with the results, I am so damn proud of the campaign we have built.”

After two weeks of standing by and awaiting the results of the primary election, today the County Clerk finalized the count.
I lost this election by 61 votes. pic.twitter.com/uXiHUEn3az

— Senator Derek Kitchen **ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE** (@derekkitchen) July 12, 2022

 

Plumb released a statement on her win against the incumbent.

“Words cannot begin to describe the amount of joy I’m feeling tonight. I’m grateful to the residents of Senate District 9 for placing their trust in me! I promise to deliver results for them, their families, our neighborhoods, and our State. Thank you, residents of Senate District 9!”

The final total for the Democratic primary was 4,322 votes for Kitchen and 4,383 votes for Plumb.

Plumb won’t face a challenger in November.

Kitchen had been a senator since 2019 and was the state’s only LGBTQ lawmaker.