Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
DRAPER — Growing up, Carolyn Phippen's family didn't talk about politics much, but discussions about different ideas and philosophies led to an interest in the subject from an early age.
That interest crystallized while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in former Czechoslovakia. Phippen, who was studying political science at Brigham Young University at the time, was struck by the differences between the former Soviet country and the United States.
"This is what our Constitution says and this is what our Constitution has produced, and here's what we produce when we go down this road or that road," she told KSL.com on Thursday.
Phippen on Wednesday joined the scrum of Republican challengers aiming to replace Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, in the U.S. Senate in 2024.
A former staffer to former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and Sen. Mike Lee, and current executive director of Freedom Front of Utah, an education-based organization focused on individual rights and the free market, Phippen announced her campaign at Draper Historic Park on Wednesday afternoon. She cast herself in opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden and other "career politicians" in a press release announcing the campaign.
"Joe Biden and the career politicians in Washington have led us to the brink of disaster — it's time for new leadership," she said. "Utah needs a strong conservative woman who will fight for our values in the U.S. Senate. Our economy is spiraling, the national debt is out of control, and the crisis at our border continues to grow. I've fought on the front lines of the conservative movement while raising a family. Now is the time to stand up for the principles that made our country great."
Phippen is the latest of several Republican candidates to join the race for Romney's seat, following outgoing Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, Roosevelt Mayor Rod Bird Jr. and accountant Josh Randall. Two additional candidates — Tyrone Jensen and Gabriel Stuart Lobo-Blanco — have filed candidacy declarations with the FEC.
Phippen campaigned to represent Utah House District 46 in the Utah Legislature in 2022 but lost to incumbent Rep. Jeff Stenquist, R-Draper, in the GOP primary.
Romney, who was elected in 2018, announced in September he would not seek reelection when his term ends in early 2025.
What does Phippen believe?
Phippen leaned into several key Republican issues in her announcement, including cutting the national debt, increasing border security and empowering the military. She pointed to an initiative she led with the Freedom Front of Utah opposing environmental, social and governance mandates for businesses.
"I'm not a career politician. I'm a mom who knows what it takes to raise a family in Utah," Phippen said. "I believe that our nation's best days lie ahead but we must elect leaders who not only understand the real challenges we face, but who will do the hard work to restore the principles that have made this nation prosper."
And while she remains committed to her conservative principles, Phippen said she's concerned that too often politicians use "name-calling in place of serious political discussion," which she said shuts down conversations and mutual understanding.
"I've probably been caught doing that a time or two myself," she admitted. "I try to not treat people that way, because there could be good ideas that I'm missing if I'm not listening to somebody else."
On immigration, Phippen described her policy goals as creating a "tall wall and a wide gate," and is optimistic that Democrats and Republicans alike will be able to fix the gridlock that has led to inaction over immigration for so long.
"I want immigrants coming here who are coming legally and going through the proper channels," she said.
Can Phippen win?
Phippen joins an early campaign with several challengers who have more electoral experience and deep pockets. Wilson and Bird have each loaned their campaigns at least $1 million, and Staggs has spent months courting a national audience through frequent appearances on conservative media like Breitbart and Lindell TV, owned by MyPillow CEO and 2020 election denier Mike Lindell.
But the former congressional staffer is unconcerned, because she sees herself as a political "outsider," who — despite working for Hughes and Lee — spent time interacting with constituents and feels more connected to the average Utahn.
She also said she's heard from both moderate and conservative Republicans who would be willing to support her candidacy.
"And, frankly, as the mother of five boys, if I don't know how to deal with ... various personalities and ways of looking at problems, if I don't know how to deal with that and try to figure out how to bring people together in a civil manner, then I haven't done my job as a mother," she said. "And I'll tell you, I know how to do that."
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Freedom Front of Utah is an advocacy group, rather than a group that educates businesses and people about individual rights and the free market.
