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(KSL News) -- This political year is marked by a confusing mix of candidates---especially in the race for Utah Governor. But people do have opinions about the candidates already. According to the latest Dan Jones poll for KSL and the Deseret Morning News, name recognition may be a big factor at this point.
Of the 14 candidates running for Governor, nine are Republican. Of those, the one leading the pack as of last week is also the incumbent.
A poll of 612 registered voters for KSL and the Deseret Morning news shows Governor Olene Walker is the top Republican candidate, the choice of 39 percent. The closest Republican Candidate after that is Jon Huntsman Junior, with 20 percent of those who were asked whom they would vote for if the primary were today.
The other candidates gathered a response in the single digits. Former Congressman Jim Hansen got nine percent. Fred Lampropulous, seven percent. Marty Stephens, four percent. Nolan Karras, two percent. Utah County commissioner Gary Herbert, one percent. Parley Hellewell and late-comer Gary Benson, zero percent. 18 percent named another candidate.
What about all the candidates, from all parties? If the election were today, the poll shows 28 percent would vote for Olene Walker. 22 percent would vote for Democrat challenger Scott Matheson Junior. 16 percent pick Huntsman; 10 percent Hansen.
Six percent said they would vote for Lampropulous; four percent Stephens; one percent each selected Herbert, Karras and Libertarian Richard Mack.
The other candidates are Republicans Parley Hellewell and Gary Bensen. Personal Choice Party Candidates Ken Larsen, and Lawrence Topham, and Constitution party candidate Stone 'Stoney Teiko Fonua.
It's still very early, but there is also interest in this race and in how the Republican candidates would stack up against Democrat Scott Matheson if the election were now.
You can get the exclusive results that answer those questions in tomorrow's Deseret Morning News.
