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SALT LAKE CITY — All Republican primary candidates for Congress, the Senate, state attorney general and governor have agreed to a series of debates ahead of the June 25 primary, the Utah Debate Commission announced Thursday.
Beginning with a pair of candidates vying for the state's 2nd Congressional District House seat on Monday, June 10, candidates in six closely watched races will debate across three days, concluding with the five Republicans running to represent the 3rd Congressional District.
"In a year with so many key races and so many talented candidates, we know there will be a lot to talk about," Ed Allen, co-chairman of the commission, said. "Debates offer candidates a singular opportunity to take their case directly to voters. We are pleased everyone has agreed to participate."
All debates will be held in the PBS Utah studio on the University of Utah campus and will air on local news stations, including KSL.
Several incumbents, including Gov. Spencer Cox, Rep. Blake Moore and Rep. Celeste Maloy are facing primary challengers from within the GOP, while Rep. Burgess Owens is running unopposed within his own party in the 4th Congressional District.
Sen. Mitt Romney and Attorney General Sean Reyes have chosen not to seek reelection, and Rep. John Curtis is running for Romney's seat, creating races for open seats that have each drawn multiple challengers.
There are no Democratic primary elections for statewide or federal races this year.
The Utah Debate Commission is a nonpartisan organization that first hosted debates in 2014, according to co-chairwoman Becky Edwards. Per commission rules, no public will be in attendance during the debates, but members of the public can submit questions to be asked until May 30.
2024 primary debate schedule
Monday, June 10 at 10 a.m.: 2nd Congressional District debate. Moderated by radio talk show host Rod Arquette.
- Colby Jenkins
- Celeste Maloy
Monday, June 10 at 2 p.m.: 1st Congressional District debate. Moderated by Julie Rose, host of BYU Radio's "Top of Mind" podcast.
- Paul Miller
- Blake Moore
Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m.: Senate debate. Moderated by Glen Mills, Utah Department of Corrections director of communications and government relations.
- John Curtis
- Trent Staggs
- Jason Walton
- Brad Wilson
Tuesday, June 11 at 2 p.m.: Attorney general debate. Moderated by Mills.
- Derek Brown
- Frank Mylar
- Rachel Terry
Tuesday, June 11 at 6 p.m.: Gubernatorial debate. Moderated by KUER assistant news director Caroline Ballard.
- Spencer Cox
- Phil Lyman
Wednesday, June 12 at 6 p.m.: 3rd Congressional District debate. Moderated by former Utah GOP chairman Thomas Wright.
- J.R. Bird
- John Dougall
- Mike Kennedy
- Case Lawrence
- Stewart Peay
