Utah Governor Candidates Debate Virus Response, Mask Mandate
Sep 29, 2020, 8:23 PM | Updated: 11:15 pm
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox went head to head with Democratic law professor Chris Peterson in Utah’s gubernatorial debate Tuesday.
The two candidates are competing to succeed Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who isn’t running again after more than a decade in office.
Cox is heavily favored to win in conservative Utah, where voters haven’t elected a Democratic governor in 40 years.
Education funding is taking up a large portion of tonight’s gubernatorial debate@PetersonUtah says Utah has resources to better fund public schools@SpencerJCox says part of problem is federal government not paying its share on public lands #utdebates @UtahDebateCom @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/ONvHmUY6kV
— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) September 30, 2020
Cox and Peterson sharply disagreed on whether to implement a statewide face covering mandate to slow the pandemic.
Peterson has repeatedly called for a mandate since July.
Cox has stood behind the governor’s decision to allow city and county officials to decide if they need bans.
LIVE: Gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) and U of U law professor Chris Peterson (D) meet to debate at KSL-TV.
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
