Chaffetz defeats challenger Teng; Misty Snow likely to advance


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SALT LAKE CITY — Here is a roundup of a few political races that were held Tuesday. Click on the headlines for more information about a specific story.

Chaffetz handily defeats challenger Teng in GOP primary =======================================================

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, handily defeated challenger Chia-Chi Teng in Utah's primary election Tuesday night.

Chaffetz held 78 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race in his favor about 9 p.m., and he maintained that lead throughout the night.

Chaffetz, 49, a four term-congressman and chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, raised more than $1 million over the two-year election cycle, much of it from out of state.

"It's a very humbling experience whenever you have people cast a ballot in your name," Chaffetz said Tuesday night, expressing his appreciation for voters in Utah's 3rd District.

Moving forward, Chaffetz said he will continue the record he is proud of, standing up to the "monster" that is Washington, D.C., politics and fighting against a possible Hillary Clinton presidency.

Chaffetz now moves on to face Democrat Stephen P. Tryon in the November general election. The 3rd District extends from Salt Lake and Utah counties through to the southeastern corner of the state.

Misty Snow likely to advance to general election to take on Mike Lee ====================================================================

Democrat Misty K. Snow, Utah's first transgender candidate to seek a statewide office, appears headed for a November showdown with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Snow was leading her opponent, Jonathan Swinton, claiming nearly 60 percent of the vote in Tuesday's Democratic primary, according to the ballots counted as of 10:30 p.m.

Swinton, 35, was the top vote-getter at the state Democratic party convention in April but fell short of becoming the party's nominee when Snow, a 30-year-old grocery store clerk, unexpectedly won enough delegate support to force a primary.

With positive polling at her back, Snow said she felt confident heading into Tuesday's primary.

"It looks like it's a pretty definitive lead, and we feel good about that," Snow said, voicing confidence she will hold the roughly 20 percent margin through the coming election canvass.

The race between Swinton and Snow is the first time Democrats in Republican-dominated Utah have had a statewide primary since 1992.

Utah hasn't had a Democratic senator in 40 years, and the party hasn't succeeded in other statewide races during that time.

If Snow's lead holds up, she will be the first transgender candidate in the U.S. to secure a major party's nomination for a congressional office.

Silvestrini may be only candidate on Millcreek's mayoral ballot ===============================================================

Even though Fred Healey warned supporters last week that he may not be physically able to continue his campaign to become Millcreek's first city mayor, he still won a spot on the November ballot.

Healey and Jeff Silvestrini — both supporters of Millcreek's incorporation vote last year — rose victorious above seven other candidates fighting to become the city's mayor, according to results released Tuesday night.

But it's uncertain whether Healey will continue his campaign to be Silvestrini's opponent this fall. He announced in an email last week that doctors discovered an aggressive tumor on his kidney, and he even encouraged supporters to vote for Silvestrini if his news changed their minds about him as a candidate.

As of Tuesday night, Silvestrini was leading with just over 32 percent of the vote. Fred Healey was second with about 27 percent, and former state Sen. Scott Howell led the remaining six candidates with nearly 17 percent of the vote.

Results, however, won't be final until the July 12 canvass, after lingering vote-by-mail ballots are counted.

If Healey withdraws — which is a decision he said he would make shortly after Tuesday's primary election — Silvestrini could instead be the last remaining choice for mayor, aside from write-in candidates.

Most Utah legislators survive intraparty challenges ===================================================

Incumbent state lawmakers fared well in Republican primaries Tuesday, with all but one leading their races to advance to the general election in November.

A handful of races Tuesday pitted Utah legislators against challengers who gathered signatures to earn a spot on the primary ballot, a controversial option created by state lawmakers through SB54.

In the state Senate, incumbent Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, held a 54 percent to 46 percent lead over Rep. Rich Cunningham, R-South Jordan, when The Associated Press called the race in Fillmore's favor just before 10:30 p.m.

In April, Fillmore earned more than 60 percent of delegate votes at the Salt Lake County Republican Convention, which normally would have earned him the GOP nomination. But Cunningham advanced to a primary because he gathered the required 2,000 signatures under SB54.

Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, the sponsor of SB54, also faced an intraparty challenge from former Utah House member Chris Herrod, one of the law's most outspoken critics. Bramble collected signatures to access the ballot; Herrod did not. As of 10:30 p.m., Bramble was leading 54 percent to 46 percent.

In the Utah House, Logan Wilde had a slim 51 percent to 49 percent lead over incumbent Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, as of 10:30 p.m. Brown collected signatures under Count My Vote.

Contributing: Katie McKeller, McKenzie Romero, Lisa Riley Roche

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