GOP state delegates nominate Maloy to represent party in Sept. primary election
Several hundred state Republican Party delegates descended upon Delta on Saturday for a special convention to choose the party’s nominee to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart.
After five rounds of voting, the party faithful in attendance chose Celeste Maloy, a former staffer in Stewart’s office and the person the Congressional District 2 representative endorsed for the seat.
Maloy bested the odds-on favorite, former state House Speaker Greg Hughes, 52.1 percent to Hughes’ 47.9 percent of the final vote, according to the official Utah GOP tally.
Maloy now goes on to the Sept. 5 primary election, where she is likely to again face off with fellow Republicans to move on to the general election on Nov. 21.
Stewart’s resignation attracted a dozen or more GOP candidates to vie for his seat. But not all of them chose to stick with the convention route. A handful also filed to collect signatures in order to get onto the primary ballot. These candidates include Scott Allen Hatfield, Remi Bubba Kush, Scott Reber, Becky Edwards and Bruce Hough. Each will have to gather at least 7,000 voter signatures by the July 5 deadline to make it onto the primary ballot. Reber later told one news outlet he had decided not to pursue the signature route, though he filed to take that option.
Maloy finally won during the fifth round of voting after Jordan Hess, another candidate and a former Utah GOP vice chair, threw his support behind her when he lost during the previous voting round.
Hess told multiple news outlets he backed Maloy because, unlike Hughes, she lives in the district. Maloy is a Cedar City resident.
“I’ve said from the very beginning that this district should be represented from someone from within the district and more so it’s important that southern Utah has representation. That’s why I got in this race, that was my number one priority, southern and rural representation in the district — that is why,” Hess said, according to the Deseret News.
During regular GOP nominating conventions, two candidates move on to the primary election. However, because this is a special election, only one candidate from each party moves on.
While at the special convention, the Chronicle Progress caught up with current House Speaker Brad Wilson, who was there in support of his predecessor and friend, Hughes.
Wilson said he was impressed by the quality of candidates who competed.
“It’s remarkable the strong slate of candidates that we’ve got for this position. I think it speaks to the commitment that Utahns have to serve our state and to serve our country. I’m really impressed with the group,” he said.
Wilson also said he was impressed by how quickly organizers were able to put the convention together, about two weeks, all told. He said he was also impressed that more delegates chose to travel to Delta than to a previous event in Utah County.
“I could not be happier that this is in Delta today. I think it’s the neatest, the greatest reflection to have higher attendance here than we had up in Utah County. It speaks volumes about how much Utahns care about rural Utah,” he said.
Wilson wasn’t the only high-ranking GOP official in attendance. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson attended the event, sitting on the gymnasium floor inside Delta High’s Palladium.
Local officials of note included former Millard County Commissioner Evelyn Warnick, a Maloy supporter, and Dennis Alldredge, a Fillmore City Council member.
GOP primary ballots are expected to be mailed out as soon as July 25.
Meanwhile, Utah Democrats host their nominating convention Wednesday, June 28, via Zoom. Three candidates are competing for the party’s nomination: Kathleen Riebe, Guy Warner and Archie Williams III.
The United Utah Party’s nominating convention was scheduled for Tuesday, June 27. It will be held in person in West Valley City’s Hunter Library or virtually online. January Walker is competing against Stone Fonua for that party’s nomination.
Stewart leaves office having won re-election five times. He is stepping down in September, ostensibly to support his wife as she battles health issues.
Congressional District 2 covers a huge area, essentially the entire western half of the state from south of Layton all the way to St. George and along the Arizona border to near Page.
