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SALT LAKE CITY — Jon Huntsman Jr. has announced Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi will be his running mate for the 2020 governor’s race.
Huntsman, a Republican, announced the news in a Twitter video Friday morning.
“I am so excited and honored and privileged that you would ask me to join your team,” Kaufusi said in the video.
Meet the next Lieutenant Governor of the Great State of Utah. #HuntsmanKaufusi2020pic.twitter.com/VsVGpFra20
— Jon Huntsman (@JonHuntsman) February 7, 2020
“Michelle is a natural leader with a real passion for public service who will bring an important local perspective to our administration,” Huntsman added in a news release. “Michelle is a tremendous addition to the ticket and she is the right choice to be Utah’s next lieutenant governor.”
In 2017, Kaufusi became the first woman elected as mayor of Provo, succeeding now-Rep. John Curtis. A lifelong resident of Provo, Kaufusi also served as a member and president of the Provo School Board from 2011 to 2017.
Huntsman said he was blown away when he first met Kaufusi. He said she is passionate about what she does to the point of getting emotional when she talks about what she has accomplished as Provo mayor.
Kaufusi also has the ability to bring some positivity to politics, Huntsman added.
"She’s a pathbreaking figure," Huntsman told KSL NewsRadio. "She’s inspirational in her own right."
In a note posted to her website Friday, Kaufusi said she won't resign as mayor of Provo. She intends to continue serving in the position until, following a potential Huntsman win, it would be time to transition to the lieutenant governor role next January, she said.
"It's after a lot of soul searching that I've decided to accept an invitation to run for Lieutenant Governor of Utah," she said. "I've shed many tears in reaching this difficult decision. Serving as your mayor has been my favorite job ever, and I can't imagine I'll ever enjoy another position more."
Kaufusi joins a Huntsman campaign that is competing against a multitude of other GOP candidates. The field also includes current Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton, businessman Jeff Burningham, former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, and former Utah Republican Party Chairman Thomas Wright.
Wright has named outgoing Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, as his running mate. None of the other candidates have announced running mates.
Two Democratic candidates are also in the race: Zachary Moses and Nikki Pino.
Contributing: Lee Lonsberry, KSL NewsRadio
