2020 Utah elections

Utah state elections in 2020 were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Aside from its presidential primaries held on March 3, its primary elections were held on June 30, 2020.[1]

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, Utah voters elected the Governor of Utah, 9 seats of its Board of Education, four of Utah's other executive officers, all of its seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the Utah House of Representatives, and 15 of 29 seats in the Utah State Senate. Neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats were up for election, but there were also seven ballot measures which were voted on.[1]

Federal offices

President of the United States

Utah, a stronghold for the Republican Party and thus a reliable "red state", has 6 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Donald Trump won with 58.13% of the vote to Joe Biden's 37.65% of the vote. On December 14, 2020, Utah cast its electoral votes for Donald Trump.

United States House of Representatives

All 4 of Utah's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election. The Republican Party candidates won all 4 seats, with the party gaining the 4th congressional district seat from the Democratic Party.

Governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Spencer Cox ran against University of Utah law professor and former CFPB official Christopher Peterson. Cox was elected to be Governor of Utah. He was elected with 64.3% of the vote.

Attorney general

2020 Utah Attorney General Election
November 3, 2020
 
Nominee Sean Reyes Greg Skordas Rudy Bautista
Party Republican Democratic Libertarian
Popular vote 878,853 489,500 82,444
Percentage 60.6% 33.7% 5.7%
Attorney General before election

Sean Reyes
Republican

 Elected Attorney General

Attorney General
Sean Reyes

Incumbent Republican attorney general Sean Reyes was elected for a third term with 60.6% of the vote in the general election. In the Republican primary, he faced challenger David O. Leavitt (Utah County attorney) after former attorney general John Swallow withdrew from the race.[2]

In the Democratic primary, attorney and ex-small claims court judge Greg Skordas, who was the Democratic nominee for the attorney general election in 2004, ran unopposed (following the withdrawal of Kevin Probasco). Rudy Bautista ran as a Libertarian.[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in the primary
  • David Leavitt

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 David
Leavitt		 Sean
Reyes		 John
Swallow		 Undecided
Suffolk University/Salt Lake Tribune June 4–7, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 26% 30.8% – 43.2%
Y2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News May 9–15, 2020 581 (LV)[lower-alpha 2] – 40% 60% – –
Y2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News March 21–30, 2020 704 (LV)[lower-alpha 3] – 32% 54% 15% –

Results

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sean Reyes (incumbent) 275,207 54.0%
Republican David Leavitt 234,027 46.0%
Total votes 509,234 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Greg Skordas
Eliminated at the convention
  • Kevin Probasco

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 Kevin
Probasco		 Greg
Skordas
Y2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News March 21–30, 2020 223 (LV) ± 6.6% 28% 72%

General election

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 Sean
Reyes (R)		 Greg
Skordas (D)		 Other Undecided
Lighthouse Research/Salt Lake Tribune August 31–September 12, 2020 2,000 (RV) ± 4.38% 46% 25% 5%[lower-alpha 4] 23%

Results

2020 Utah Attorney General election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sean Reyes (incumbent) 878,853 60.58%
Democratic Greg Skordas 489,500 33.74%
Libertarian Rudy Bautista 82,444 5.68%
Total votes 1,450,797 100.00%

Auditor

2020 Utah Auditor election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Dougall (incumbent) 1,000,846 74.78%
United Utah Brian Fabbi 173,644 12.97%
Constitution Jeffrey Ostler 163,872 12.24%
Total votes 1,338,362 100.00%

Treasurer

2020 Utah Treasurer election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Damschen (incumbent) 994,115 74.57%
Libertarian Joseph Speciale 198,549 14.89%
Independent American Richard Proctor 140,466 10.54%
Total votes 1,333,130 100.00%

State Board of Education

District 3

Republican convention

State Republican convention results (first round)[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Hymas 99 70.2%
Republican Laurieann Thorpe (incumbent) 42 29.8%
Total votes 141 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 3[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Hymas 43,331 59.5%
Democratic Brett Garner 29,533 40.5%
Total votes 72,864 100.0%

District 4

Republican convention

State Republican convention results (first round)[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Strate 124 53.4%
Republican K'Leena Furniss 108 46.6%
Total votes 232 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 4[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brent Strate 76,774 100.0%
Total votes 76,774 100.0%

District 7

Results

State Board of Education, District 7[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Carol Barlow Lear (incumbent) 80,993 100.0%
Total votes 80,993 100.0%

District 8

Results

State Board of Education, District 8[5]: 32 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janet Cannon (incumbent) 72,201 100.0%
Total votes 72,201 100.0%

District 10

Republican nomination

Convention
Republican convention results[4]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2
Votes % Votes %
David Linford % %
Molly Hart % %
Jeffrey Ferlo % Eliminated
Inactive Ballots 0 ballots 0 ballots
Primary
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Molly Hart 22,101 67.3%
Republican David Linford 10,741 32.7%
Total votes 32,842 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 10[5]: 32 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Molly Hart 81,974 100.0%
Total votes 72,201 100.0%

District 11

Republican convention

State Republican convention results (first round)[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Natalie Cline 162 64.8%
Republican Mike Haynes (incumbent) 88 35.2%
Total votes 250 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 11[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Natalie Cline 80,720 69.0%
Independent Tony Zani 36,232 31.0%
Total votes 116,952 100.0%

District 12

Republican convention

Republican convention results[4][6]
Candidate Round 1 & 2 Round 3
Votes % Votes %
James Moss 171 56.2% 210 71.7%
Lorri-Sue Blunt 71 23.4% 83 28.3%
Joe Rivest 62 20.4% Eliminated
Inactive Ballots 0 ballots 11 ballots

Results

State Board of Education, District 12[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Moss Jr. 69,864 76.4%
Constitution Catherine Rebekah Taylor 21,625 23.6%
Total votes 91,489 100.0%

District 13

Republican nomination

Convention
Republican convention results[4]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2
Votes % Votes %
Randy Boothe % %
Alyson Williams % %
Jeff Rust % Eliminated
Inactive Ballots 0 ballots 0 ballots
Primary
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Boothe 14,094 52.1%
Republican Alyson Williams 12,978 47.9%
Total votes 27,072 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 13[5]: 32 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Randy Boothe 65,414 100.0%
Total votes 65,414 100.0%

District 15

Republican nomination

Convention
Republican convention results[4]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2
Votes % Votes %
Scott F. Smith 140 45.6% 161 53.8%
Kristan Norton 112 36.5% 138 46.2%
Dale M Brinkerhoff 55 17.9% Eliminated
Inactive Ballots 0 ballots 8 ballots
Primary
Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kristan Norton 27,351 61.2%
Republican Scott Smith 17,368 38.8%
Total votes 27,072 100.0%

Results

State Board of Education, District 15[5]: 30 
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kristan Norton 95,227 100.0%
Total votes 95,227 100.0%

State legislature

All 75 seats of the Utah House of Representatives and 15 of 29 seats of the Utah State Senate were up for election. Before the election the composition of the Utah State Legislature was:

After the election, the composition was:

State Judiciary

Utah Supreme Court

Retain Judge John A. Pearce for 10 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,025,585 81.5
No 232,407 18.5
Total votes 1,257,992 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia

Utah Court of Appeals

Retain Judge Michele Christiansen for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,023,082 82.4
No 218,804 17.6
Total votes 1,257,992 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia
Retain Judge Diana Hagen for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,038,612 83.1
No 211,810 16.9
Total votes 1,250,422 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia
Retain Judge Ryan M. Harris for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 925,080 75.0
No 308,015 25.0
Total votes 1,233,095 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia
Retain Judge David Mortensen for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 967,500 77.7
No 277,924 22.3
Total votes 1,245,424 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia
Retain Judge Gregory Orme for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 994,542 80.0
No 248,153 20.0
Total votes 1,242,695 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia
Retain Judge Jill Pohlman for 6 more years
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,036,007 83.1
No 210,290 16.9
Total votes 1,246,297 100.00
Source: Ballotpedia

Ballot measures

Measure SJR 9 is a state constitutional amendment to allow income tax to fund programs for children and people with disabilities.[7]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 For SJR 9 Against SJR 9 Undecided
Y2 Analytics/UtahPolicy/KUTV 2 News March 21–30, 2020 1,260 (LV) ± 2.8% 46% 35% 19%

Amendment A

Update Gender Terminology
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 828,629 57.69
No 607,829 42.31
Total votes 1,436,458 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment B

Lawmaker Eligibility Timing
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,114,795 80.10
No 276,897 19.90
Total votes 1,391,692 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment C

Remove Slavery Exception
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,138,974 80.48
No 276,171 19.52
Total votes 1,415,145 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment D

Revise Local Water Rights
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 827,596 61.14
No 525,985 38.86
Total votes 1,353,581 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment E

Add Right to Hunt and Fish
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 1,063,212 74.92
No 355,848 25.08
Total votes 1,419,060 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment F

Legislative Session Dates
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 895,435 66.51
No 450,835 33.49
Total votes 1,346,270 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Amendment G

Expand Income, Prop Tax Uses
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 764,420 54.09
No 648,840 45.91
Total votes 1,413,260 100.00
Source: Associated Press[3]

Voting Information

The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. The following data tables highlight voter registration rules, in-person voting procedures, and absentee voting procedures relevant to the November 3, 2020, general election in the state of Utah.

Voter registration in Utah [8]
Registration URL Link
Registration status URL Link
Registration update URL Link
In-person registration deadline October 23, 2020
Mail registration deadline October 23, 2020
Mail postmark or receipt deadline Received
Online registration deadline October 23, 2020
Same-day registration Yes
Early voting same-day registration Yes
In-person voting in Utah [9]
All voters required to show ID Yes
ID types Link
ID source URL Link
Early voting start date October 20, 2020
Early voting end date October 30, 2020
Weekend voting? Yes
Early voting source URL Link
Election Day poll times 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Absentee voting in Utah [10]
Are there limits on who can request a ballot? No
Mail request deadline N/A
Request postmark or receipt deadline N/A
Mail return deadline November 2, 2020
Return postmark or receipt deadline Postmarked
Notary/witness requirements No requirement

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Including registered Republican likely primary voters and currently unaffiliated likely primary voters
  3. ↑ Including registered Republican likely primary voters and currently unaffiliated likely primary voters
  4. ↑ Bautista (L) with 5%; "Other" with no voters
Partisan clients

    References

    1. 1 2 "Utah elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
    2. 1 2 "UTAH". Politics1. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Election Results, Associated Press, November 27, 2020
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Convention Results". The Utah Republican Party. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Utah Voting Results" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
    6. ↑ "State Board of Education - District 12".
    7. ↑ "UTAH POLITICAL TRENDS PANEL MARCH 2020" (PDF). Y2 Analytics. March 30, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
    8. ↑ "Utah elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
    9. ↑ "Utah elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
    10. ↑ "Utah elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
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