Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Utah lawmakers Stuart Adams (senate president), Dan McCay and Trevor Lee all bounced in GOP primary
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 6/24/26 | Emily Anderson Stern

Posted on 06/24/2026 2:48:42 AM PDT by cotton1706

Republican voters ousted Utah’s most powerful lawmaker, state Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Tuesday after a series of controversies and mounting criticism for his role as one of the key decision-makers advancing a proposal to build a controversial data center in Box Elder County.

Two other key GOP lawmakers — Sen. Daniel McCay and Rep. Trevor Lee — were voted out as well.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into the competition pitting Adams of Layton against Weber State University’s ex-general counsel, Stephanie Hollist, and former Legislature attorney Braden Hess.

Hollist held the lead around 11:30 p.m. with 43% of the vote, according to unofficial returns, followed by Adams, who conceded defeat late Tuesday, at 35% and Hess with 22%.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: center; data; datacenter; elections; utah
A lot of Utah "Republicans" are really Democrats.

Taking out the Senate president is major!

1 posted on 06/24/2026 2:48:42 AM PDT by cotton1706
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: cotton1706

People who have no idea *always* assume that any Republican who loses in a primary was a RINO and was defeated by someone more conservative.

Adams is no great loss, but McCay wasn’t so bad and Lee is actually a conservative so I’m not sure what the voters’ problem was with him. Or maybe his conservatism WAS the problem.

This is Utah after all, and the Mor(m)on Majority vastly prefers Mitt Romneys, John Curtises and Blake Moores to the Mike Lees of the world.


2 posted on 06/24/2026 5:22:35 AM PDT by PermaRag (Facts, context, and more facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cotton1706
You need to clarify your remark...are you referring to the GOP incumbents who were defeated or the folks who just won primaries against them?
3 posted on 06/24/2026 5:24:17 AM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PermaRag

Lee’s ok isn’t he? We need another just like him.


4 posted on 06/24/2026 5:47:29 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

U.S. Senator Mike Lee is one of the best the GOP has (though occasionally accused of being a Chamber of Commerce tool).

But Utah doesn’t really like conservatives, though they adore RINOs. Lee struggled way more than he should have last time around.


5 posted on 06/24/2026 5:49:11 AM PDT by PermaRag (Facts, context, and more facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: mac_truck

I was referring to phony Republicans like Senator Curtis, who is actually a Democrat. So any people like him. And the Senate president seemed to be of that same ilk.


6 posted on 06/24/2026 6:04:51 AM PDT by cotton1706
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: cotton1706

So was the winners RINOs?


7 posted on 06/24/2026 7:03:48 AM PDT by DeplorableTrumpSupporter (FKA ConservaTeen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cotton1706

We have that problem with the Texas House; less so the TX Senate, presided over by hard-hitting Dan Patrick.


8 posted on 06/24/2026 2:51:07 PM PDT by Theodore R. ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson