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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A national conservative group is jumping into Utah's Republican race for the governor's office by endorsing Overstock.com executive Jonathan Johnson.
Washington, D.C.-based FreedomWorks for America announced at Utah's state Capitol on Tuesday that it would back Johnson over Gov. Gary Herbert because the governor has approved tax increases, supported Medicaid expansion and Common Core education standards.
FreedomWorks President and CEO Adam Brandon says Herbert's policies are inconsistent with conservative values.
Herbert's campaign manager Marty Carpenter called the endorsement an outside group trying to tell Utah residents how to vote and a desperate move from Johnsons' campaign.
Herbert and Johnson will compete in a June 28 primary election for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democrat Michael Weinholtz in November.
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