What Utah's congressional, senate candidates have said on social media about immigration, other big issues

What Utah's congressional, senate candidates have said on social media about immigration, other big issues

(James M. Dobson)


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SALT LAKE CITY — With Election Day less than two weeks away, many voters are researching candidates on their ballots in order to make the right decision.

KSL.com researched Facebook and Twitter accounts of candidates in Utah’s major political races to see what the candidates have posted regarding five major issues — health care, immigration, climate change, trade and taxes.

The races examined here are between candidates for U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives in all four of Utah’s congressional districts.

You can find more details about the candidates in these races by clicking this link. Here’s a look at the candidates and their social media accounts.

U.S. Senate

Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate, has been on Twitter since June 2009, well before his presidential run in 2012. He has just under 2 million followers and about 1,700 tweets.

Other candidates in the race have been more active on Twitter, despite not using the platform quite as long as Romney.

Democrat challenger Jenny Wilson joined in February 2014 and has about 2,100 tweets, along with about 33,000 followers. Libertarian Senate candidate Craig Bowden joined Twitter in May 2012 and has 55,000 tweets to go with just under 6,500 followers.

Constitution Party candidate Tim Aalders isn’t as active on Twitter as the other candidates, but he does post to Facebook frequently. Independent American Party candidate Reed McCandless hasn’t updated his Twitter since March.

Here are some sample posts from the candidates on some key issues.

Tim Aalders

Twitter: @Aalders_Senate

Facebook: Tim Aalders for US Senate

Veterans should have always had best choices for healthcare. They sacrifice so much to defend this country because of...

Posted by Tim Aalders for US Senate on Thursday, June 7, 2018

Much has been said about President Trump and trade issues. It's not what currently is happening but what happened under...

Posted by Tim Aalders for US Senate on Friday, June 1, 2018

As an opponent of Mitt Romney on the ballot in November I have pointed out our differences many times. But on this point...

Posted by Tim Aalders for US Senate on Tuesday, September 11, 2018

I am so glad that the Trump administration will make it much more difficult for immigrants to come to the United States...

Posted by Tim Aalders for US Senate on Sunday, September 23, 2018

Craig Bowden

Twitter: @Bowden4Senate

Facebook: Craig Bowden, Libertarian for Senate

Mitt Romney

Twitter: @MittRomney

Facebook: Mitt Romney

Jenny Wilson

Twitter: @JennyWilsonUT

Facebook: Jenny Wilson for Senate

House of Representatives District 1

In northern Utah, incumbent Republican Rob Bishop faces challenges from Democrat Lee Castillo, United Utah Party candidate Eric Eliason and Green Party candidate Adam Davis.

Bishop has had a Twitter account since 2010 but hasn’t posted on it. He posts more regularly on Facebook. Castillo joined Twitter in March and has a few hundred tweets and a few hundred followers. He also posts regularly on Facebook.

Eliason joined Twitter in February and has just under 500 tweets and about 730 followers. Davis joined Twitter in May 2017.

Here are some sample posts from the candidates on some key issues.

Rob Bishop ==========

Twitter: @RepRobBishop

Facebook: Rep. Rob Bishop

"We are calling for the facilitation of learning. We are calling for a reasoned and responsible environment where the best minds may be able to analyze and examine something about which we know very little."

Posted by Rep. Rob Bishop on Sunday, January 28, 2018

Our parks are national treasures. Let’s start treating them that way. This bipartisan bill will put us on the path to improving our parks for future generations.

Posted by Rep. Rob Bishop on Thursday, July 26, 2018

“It’s about time northern Utah’s military veterans have convenient access to the care they so rightly deserve. Veterans...

Posted by Rep. Rob Bishop on Friday, April 27, 2018

“Passage of this bill will mean great savings for America’s middle class families. The expansion of the child tax credit is in line with Utah values and American Ideals."

Posted by Rep. Rob Bishop on Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Lee Castillo

Twitter: @Lee4USCongress

Facebook: J Lee Castillo for Congress

I do believe in humane enforcement of immigration laws .I don’t believe in doing things under the guise of enforcement...

Posted by J Lee Castillo for Congress on Sunday, September 2, 2018

Adam Davis

Twitter: @davisforutah

Facebook: Adam Davis For Utah’s 1st District

Eric Eliason

Twitter: @EliasonCongress

Facebook: Eric Eliason for Congress

House of Representatives District 2

Incumbent Republican Rep. Chris Stewart has been on Twitter since January 2013. In that time, he’s amassed just under 3,000 tweets and attracted more than 17,000 followers.

Democrat challenger Shireen Ghorbani joined in November 2011 and has just over 7,000 Twitter followers, along with about 4,500 tweets.

Libertarian candidate Jeff Whipple only has 34 tweets, but posts more regularly on Facebook.

Here’s a sampling of the three candidates’ social media activity.

Shireen Ghorbani

Twitter: @ShireenGhorbani

Facebook: Shireen for Congress

Chris Stewart

Twitter: @RepChrisStewart

Facebook: Congressman Chris Stewart

Jeff Whipple

Twitter: @jeffreywhipple

Facebook: Jeffrey Whipple: Libertarian for Utah

Remember, in the eyes of a significant number of legislators, "medical marijuana" has already been passed. Vote yes on Prop 2.

Posted by Jeffrey Whipple: Libertarian for Utah on Monday, September 17, 2018

I wholeheartedly support labor unions. If workers -in any sector- feel the need to collectively bargain in order to...

Posted by Jeffrey Whipple: Libertarian for Utah on Wednesday, June 27, 2018

I don't like to make statements on issues or events while I'm still angry about them. That's why I haven't made a...

Posted by Jeffrey Whipple: Libertarian for Utah on Monday, June 18, 2018

I don't think Congressman Stewart could be more wrong about this. In this candidate's view, there are exactly two...

Posted by Jeffrey Whipple: Libertarian for Utah on Monday, April 16, 2018

House of Representatives District 3

Republican incumbent John Curtis tweets from two different accounts with a combined following of just over 7,500 people. He joined Twitter in 2009.

Democrat challenger James Courage Singer joined Twitter in 2014 and has just over 5,000 followers.

Independent American Party candidate Gregory C. Duerden has a very limited presence on both Facebook and Twitter. United Utah Party candidate Tim Zeidner doesn’t have a Twitter or Facebook account for his campaign.

Here’s a look at the social media posts from these three candidates.

John Curtis

Twitter: @CurtisUT, @RepJohnCurtis

Facebook: John Curtis

Gregory C. Duerden

Twitter: @BYHi67

Facebook: Gregory C Duerden

Talk about kicking the immigration can down the road! Trump told Congress to WAIT until after the election, I in...

Posted by Gregory C Duerden on Friday, June 22, 2018

Our hearts go out to the U.K. after Manchester, several London attacks, and no solution in sight. Back here in the U.S....

Posted by Gregory C Duerden on Sunday, June 4, 2017

Media used ‘Trade War’ with China as a headline for the first time, that I’m aware of during this gearing up of U.S....

Posted by Gregory C Duerden on Friday, July 6, 2018

James Courage Singer

Twitter: @urbannavajo

Facebook: James Singer for U.S. Congress

House of Representatives District 4

Utah’s most competitive political race sees incumbent Republican Rep. Mia Love up against Democrat and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams.

Love tweets from two different accounts with a combined following of about 147,000 people. She joined the platform in July 2011.

McAdams also has two accounts — one reserved for things related to his job as Salt Lake County mayor and another account for everything else. He has a combined following of about 18,000 people.

Here’s a look at the social media activity from these two candidates.

Mia Love

Twitter: @MiaBLove, @RepMiaLove

Facebook: Mia Love, Rep. Mia B. Love

Ben McAdams

Twitter: @BenMcAdams, @MayorBenMcAdams

Facebook: Ben McAdams

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