Growing up in Utah, my family roots run deep. My ancestors helped build this state. They embody the pioneer spirit of resilience, self-sacrifice and community — values I strive to emulate in my life and work. When I served as the leader of our local congregation, I saw first hand the struggles that many families face — children going to bed hungry, parents working multiple jobs just to get by and individuals who lack access to critical healthcare. These experiences didn’t just shape my perspective; they drove my commitment to public service.

I carried these stories with me in deciding to run for the Utah Legislature in 2008. I’d already been fighting for everyday people in my law practice, suing insurance companies on behalf of clients unjustly denied life, health and disability claims. It was a David and Goliath battle then, and it certainly remains one now in my campaign for governor. But I know that we can and must do better for the people of this state. I’m running because like 62% of you, I believe Utah is headed in the wrong direction.

I am a Democrat because of my faith, not despite it. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve always drawn inspiration from the core principles of my religion: service, community, responsibility, honesty and love for our neighbors. While some may see a disconnect between my faith and my polities, for me, they are inextricably linked. My beliefs compel me to act on behalf of the vulnerable and the marginalized, to fight for justice and to seek policies that uplift all Utahns.

The challenges facing Utahns today are not just political issues; they are moral imperatives. Too often, politicians talk about values while never delivering meaningful solutions. My religious tradition teaches that faith without works is dead. This drives me to act — not just to speak. I take to heart the principle that questioning authority and advocating for change is courageous, especially when it uplifts the voiceless. We need leaders who will prioritize solutions over soundbites, and who will fight for common-sense policies, not culture wars. I aim to be that kind of leader — a bipartisan governor focused on delivering results and putting people above politics.

For four decades we have had only one political party controlling both the Legislature and the governor’s office in Utah. The result? Increasing examples of abuse of that power. Whether it’s extreme gerrymandering of voting maps, legislative power grabs by trying to gut citizen initiative and referendum power, or government overreach in taking our agency and dictating what we do in the most personal and consequential decisions of our lives, Utahns are being hurt by the political monopoly we see in our state government. A more healthy, competitive environment is what we need — for the better, for Utah.

While the values and principles from my religion are important to me, this does not mean imposing my religious beliefs on others. I am committed to separating church and state. Good public policy should be driven by the best data and research available, not by the dictates of any one religion or party. In a state as vast as ours, we must ensure that the laws we pass protect the freedoms and rights of all people, regardless of background or beliefs.

It’s important to acknowledge how our moral values shape our approach to governance. For me, that means seeing beyond party labels and focusing on policies that help all Utahns — economic opportunity, quality education and a fair justice system. It means building a society where the vulnerable are not left behind, where service to others is more than a slogan and where unity, rather than division, is our guiding light.

The pioneers of our state were willing to make great sacrifices for the common good. Today, we need a new kind of pioneer spirit — a willingness to prioritize community over individual gain, to act with integrity and to bring people together to solve the problems we face. I’m called to be that kind of leader, and I hope to serve Utah toward a future where our values are reflected in our policies, where we truly love our neighbors and where our actions speak louder than words.

By Brian King | For The Salt Lake Tribune | Oct. 11, 2024

Sixty-two percent of Utahns think our state is going in the wrong direction, according to a Utah Policy Project survey, and we know why. Over the past four years, the gap has only increased between the enormity of our problems and the smallness of our politics. We are so much better than this — and we can do better.

My name is Brian King, and I am running to be your next governor. Born into a legacy of pioneers, my roots in Utah run five generations deep. I grew up hearing stories from my grandparents about their grandparents crossing the plains, working the land and making sacrifices so their children could have a better life. The stories of my ancestors instilled in me a deep connection and sense of duty to this state and its people, and one phrase my grandmother often said still echoes in my mind: “We do hard things, no matter how difficult or uncertain.”

For the past 16 years, I’ve served in the Utah Legislature and, as an attorney, I’ve spent my career representing individuals who have been harmed by insurers’ wrongful denial of claims. I work on a contingency basis, meaning I only get paid if the plaintiff receives the relief they deserve. Both types of work — as a legislator and as an attorney— have been true David versus Goliath battles — just like this governor’s race.

I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing than fighting to make a positive difference for the people of Utah, and that is what I will continue to do as governor.

Right now, there is a monopoly on power in our state. And I believe monopolies are a bad thing. Competition in our politics is just as productive as competition in our economy — and I think we could use some more of it. I am committed to bridging divides and finding common ground, not for special interests or political gain, but for the better of Utahns.

Utahns deserve better than the divisive, extreme leadership currently running the show — plain and simple. During my 16 years in the Utah Legislature, every bill I’ve passed has been with bipartisan support. If elected, every bill I sign will be bipartisan. Our current governor can’t say that. He bends to the will of the Legislature, switching positions to protect his political power rather than serving you. He prioritizes culture war issues, not the real problems affecting Utahns every day.

That’s what I am here to do. I’ve always been proud of the tough votes I’ve cast, and while they weren’t always easy, I’ve never regretted standing up for what’s right.

You’re not alone in feeling like your party has abandoned you. You aren’t alone in feeling that no party speaks for your priorities and values. I’m running to offer an alternative — a government that prioritizes the public good over personal interests; delivering results, not rhetoric; and a culture of courage and character, not contention — for the better.

We might not belong to the same party, but I’m confident we agree a heck of a lot more than we disagree.

If you are frustrated by politics today, if you feel like people in power aren’t listening to you, if you quietly hoped that Donald Trump would not be the nominee, if you had the courage to vote for Nikki Haley, you are not alone. And you have a place with us. You and I have the opportunity to create a future where families are trusted, where everyone has the chance to get ahead and where we do hard things, no matter how difficult or uncertain.

As Utahns, we stand up for what’s right, even when we stand alone. And that’s what I’ll do as your governor. I invite you to join me — for the better.

Brian King is running for Utah governor. He represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren and three grandchildren. To learn more, visit KingForUtah.com.

“Despite the pandering and talking points, Spencer Cox has shown Utahns who he really is. The age old adage still rings true: actions speak louder than words.” said Gabi Finlayson, King’s campaign manager. “His flip-flop on Trump and the controversy surrounding Arlington National Cemetery, coupled with the harmful bills he has signed, have resulted in a 47% disapproval rating and only 35% of voters stating they plan to vote for him. Meanwhile, Brian King is offering a vision for Utah focused on common sense, freedom, and opportunity. We are excited to see that his priorities are resonating with pragmatic Utahns eager to get their government back on track.”

The King campaign is investing over $200,000 in media buys in the final four weeks leading up to election day.

Attachments:

• “The Real Spencer Cox” Ad

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

“With just a few weeks until election day, the dynamics of this race have shifted dramatically. Here are the facts: Brian King is winning independent voters, the second-largest voting bloc in our state. Cox is struggling, polling at only 35%, with 47% of voters viewing him unfavorably. Meanwhile, right-wing write-in candidate Phil Lyman is at nearly 20%, siphoning votes directly from Cox's base,” said Gabi Finlayson, King’s Campaign Manager.

“The momentum is unmistakably with Brian King, and it’s easy to see why. Utahns want a leader who can build common-sense, bipartisan coalitions—not someone who panders to both sides while driving us further apart. Voters are fed up with the political monopoly on power and are looking for balanced leadership that prioritizes their needs and futures. The message is clear: it’s time for something new—for the better,” Finlayson added.

The King campaign is up with a six-figure statewide advertising campaign in the final weeks of the election. Ballots will be mailed on October 15th. The deadline to register to vote is October 25th. Election Day is November 5th. 

In an out-of-the-ordinary race for governor, Democrat Brian King’s campaign says its polling shows King is within striking distance of Gov. Spencer Cox, trailing the Republican incumbent by 11 percentage points.

“With just a few weeks until Election Day, the dynamics of this race have shifted dramatically,” King’s campaign manager, Gabi Finlayson, said Wednesday.

The poll, conducted Sept. 27-28 by Public Policy Polling, shows Cox in the lead with 35%, followed by King at 24%, Republican write-in candidate Phil Lyman at 19% and Libertarian nominee Robert Latham at 3%. A sizable portion of voters, 18%, are unsure.

In an out-of-the-ordinary race for governor, Democrat Brian King’s campaign says its polling shows King is within striking distance of Gov. Spencer Cox, trailing the Republican incumbent by 11 percentage points.

“With just a few weeks until Election Day, the dynamics of this race have shifted dramatically,” King’s campaign manager, Gabi Finlayson, said Wednesday.

The poll, conducted Sept. 27-28 by Public Policy Polling, shows Cox in the lead with 35%, followed by King at 24%, Republican write-in candidate Phil Lyman at 19% and Libertarian nominee Robert Latham at 3%. A sizable portion of voters, 18%, are unsure.

Cox’s campaign manager Matt Lusty did not respond directly to King’s polling numbers but castigated the Democratic nominee as one of the most liberal members of the Legislature and said that voting for Lyman could open a door for King in the race.

“Utahns don’t want a liberal, California-style Democrat as their governor,” Lusty said, “but by casting a protest vote in the general election for a third-party candidate, that’s what they may end up getting.”

Finlayson countered that “Utahns want a leader who can build commonsense, bipartisan coalitions — not someone who panders to both sides while driving us further apart.”

Internal polling often needs to be taken with a grain of salt, since candidates can use loaded questions to skew the results, but King’s campaign provided the full list of questions, which did not include any leading statements.

The poll also showed former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris 54% to 39% in the chase for the White House among Utah voters. Trump carried the Beehive State with 58% of the vote in 2020 to Joe Biden’s 38%.

The survey of 612 Utah voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Finlayson said the poll shows King winning among independents 47% to 35%, while Lyman is “siphoning votes directly from Cox’s base.”

No Democrat has won the governor’s race since Scott Matheson was reelected in 1980, and the last time a Democrat finished within 30 points of his challenger was in 2004, when Matheson’s son, Scott Matheson Jr., lost to Jon Huntsman Jr. by 16 points.

King has been outspent by nearly 7 to 1 so far in the campaign, with King’s team shelling out $481,621 through the end of September compared to $3.3 million expended this year on Cox’s reelection bid.

The last public poll in the governor’s race was conducted by the Utah Debate Commission, which showed Cox well ahead of King, 48% to 27%. And a survey conducted in early August for the Deseret News had Cox with an even larger lead, 56% to 17%.

Since that time, Cox has reversed his long-standing refusal to endorse Trump, throwing his support behind the former president after the attempted assassination of the GOP Oval Office nominee in Pennsylvania.

Cox later drew criticism for appearing at an event at Arlington National Cemetery alongside Trump. The two politicians posed for photos among the headstones with the family of Marine Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, who was killed in Afghanistan.

Members of Trump’s campaign aides reportedly had an altercation with cemetery staffers when they were told that photographs for political purposes were not allowed. Cox’s campaign also sent out an email with a photo of the event and a fundraising solicitation. The governor later apologized, blaming a campaign staffer who he said sent it without permission.

Neither of the earlier polls included Lyman as an option.

Earlier this year, King and Lyman appeared in an unconventional ad — paid for by King’s campaign — in which the two highlighted their political differences but agreed that “Spencer Cox should not be our next governor” and encouraged voters to choose one of them.

Republican officials condemned Lyman for helping to bolster the King campaign.

“Rep. Brian King has been a steadfast advocate for public education, standing up for both Utah students and public educators on critical issues. As governor, I am confident he will continue to champion the needs of public schools and collaborate with the UEA to create an environment where every student and educator can thrive,” said UEA President Renée Pinkney.

“I am honored to be endorsed by the Utah Education Association PAC. Investing in neighborhood public schools has been one of my top priorities in the House, and, as Governor, I will ensure that our kids’ public education is fully funded, that our educators are paid what they’re worth, and that culture war politics stays out of the classroom,” said Brian King.

In endorsing King, the UEA-PAC specifically highlighted Cox’s support of a controversial voucher bill that has already siphoned $82 million of taxpayer money out of public schools, as well as his support for divisive, unnecessary bills demonizing, diversity, equity, and inclusion, banning books, and targeting LGBTQ+ kids. 

Especially with Amendment A, the legislature and governor’s anti-education proposal, on the ballot this year, protecting our neighborhood public schools is an important issue for Utahns. This endorsement is further proof that Brian King is the common sense choice for Governor in November.

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

LISTEN HERE

Gabi Finlayson, Campaign Manager for Brian King, released the following statement: 

“Tonight, we saw a real contrast. Throughout the debate, on issue after issue, there was only one candidate who proved he is truly listening to middle-class families and will prioritize their needs as governor. 62% of Utahns think our state is headed in the wrong direction and we know why: over the past 4 years, we’ve been witness to the ever-widening gap between the enormity of our problems and the smallness of our politics. We need a leader who will bring down housing prices, address the cost of living, trust families to make decisions about their own futures, protect our natural resources, and lead with common sense, bipartisan solutions. That is Brian King.

“As Brian said, if you’re frustrated by politics, if you feel like people in power aren’t listening to you, if you no longer feel like your party represents you, there is a place for you in our campaign. We’re building a coalition of pragmatists, not purists, and together, we have the opportunity to create a future where families are trusted, where everyone has the chance to get ahead, and where we do hard things, no matter how difficult or uncertain. Join us — for the better.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

Opening the only debate between candidates for governor in November’s general election, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox touted what he sees as his achievements in office “despite my Democratic colleague voting against it” — a shot at the state’s former House minority leader who is now vying to be the first Democrat to lead the Beehive State in four decades.

From there, Wednesday night evolved into a sparring match between Cox and state Rep. Brian King that echoed the Democrat’s struggles against policies passed by the Legislature’s Republican supermajority with the governor’s stamp of approval over the last four years.

Utah’s top politicos, from the chair of the Utah Republican Party to the lieutenant governor, watched on, crammed into a theater alongside students at Salt Lake Community College to hear Cox spar with opponents in his first reelection bid.

Beside Cox and King was Libertarian candidate Robert Latham. The debate was the first meeting between major party candidates before the general election in a contest that has seen recent headlines dominated by legal challenges — with little evidence — to the results of the GOP primary election.

The first words uttered by both Latham and King on stage acknowledged their status as underdogs in the race.

Three minutes before the broadcast started, Latham shouted, “Where are my Libertarians?” And a small pocket of cheers followed. King, who was drawn to give the first answer, said he is running for governor because, “You deserve a governor who will do hard things, no matter how difficult or uncertain.”

Early on in the debate, King leveled criticism at Cox for his about-face endorsement of former President Donald Trump as his National Governors Association campaign to “disagree better” concluded.

“The governor right now is simply acting inconsistently with his statements that he wants to disagree better,” he said, pointing out the ex-president’s efforts to overturn the results of the last presidential election.

Cox responded, saying, “It’s sad to me that my colleague would dismiss the vast majority of voters in our state who are going to support the former president,” adding he aims to continue to try bringing Utahns across the political spectrum together.

The incumbent governor and King volleyed attacks at each other based on legislation passed at the Capitol throughout the night, including one of the most hotly debated questions ahead of November — whether Utahns should approve a constitutional amendment proposed in an emergency special session giving lawmakers unfettered power to repeal or amend voter-passed initiatives.

A state district judge said earlier in the day she would rule that night as to whether the question should be included on the ballot.

Both King and Latham said they would vote against the amendment in November, but Cox remained coy as to where he sits on it. “The governor doesn’t have an opportunity to weigh in on constitutional amendments,” Cox said, while insisting the power to run ballot initiatives must remain available.

“The governor is deceiving you in the same way the Legislature is,” King responded, pointing out that while the governor’s signature wasn’t required for the amendment, he did sign bills that enabled the question to be printed on the ballot. “He’s a lapdog for the most extreme and the most divisive voices in the Legislature.”

While answering questions from reporters after the debate, Cox refused to give a direct answer as to whether he will vote “for” or “against” Amendment D.

“If I could have written it, I would have done some things differently,” Cox said, adding, “I think on balance, it’s worth supporting, but it’s close.”

Invitations to participate in the debate were based on an August poll of 518 Utah voters as to which bubble they would fill in for governor, if the election were held then.

Of those who responded, 48% said they would cast a ballot for Cox, 27% backed King and just under 7% said Latham. The threshold for participation was 5.69%.

About 29 of the Utahns surveyed said they would vote for state representative and write-in candidate Phil Lyman, who lost to Cox in the June GOP primary. He missed qualifying by one-tenth of a percentage point.

Ahead of the debate, Gabi Finlayson, Brian King’s Campaign Manager, said, “Utahns deserve a governor who stands up for what’s right—every day, not just when it’s convenient. Governor Cox has spent the last four years chasing after praise from moderates, far-right Republicans, the occasional Democrat, special interest groups, and now Donald Trump—trying so hard to be everything to everyone but standing for nothing. Brian King is running because Utah needs a leader who’s consistent, trustworthy, and not swayed by political pressure. It’s time for a governor who leads with conviction, not convenience.”

Here are just a few of Cox’s many inconsistencies:

• On Donald Trump

  • January 11, 2021: “I certainly think it would be good for the nation if [Trump] were willing to resign” (Good Morning America) 

  • February 15, 2024: Nominating Trump is a “huge mistake” (Deseret News)

  • July 11, 2024: “I’m not going to vote for either presidential candidate this year. I’ll write somebody in, as I’ve done in the past.” (Salt Lake Tribune)

  • July 19, 2024: “I am doing everything I can to help and support [Trump]” (Utah News Dispatch)

• On Ballot Initiatives

  • November 11, 2021: Signed gerrymandered maps in defiance of voter-passed independent redistricting (Salt Lake Tribune)

  • June 11, 2024: “I've always said that I think it's a mistake when we overturn the will of the people…decisions made by the people are always better” (Utah Debate Commission)

  • August 22, 2024: Signed bills allowing constitutional amendment on the ballot to give legislature authority to ignore voter-passed ballot initiatives (ABC4 Utah)

• On Education

  • September 25, 2020: “We have a problem in equity when it comes to education…if you live in wealthy neighborhoods or on the east side, you get a tremendous amount more funding per student in those school districts than you do on the west side or in rural Utah. That's something that has to change” (Utah League of Cities and Towns)

  • January 28, 2023: Signed school voucher bill to send taxpayer money to private schools, disproportionately hurting public schools in rural and underserved communities (KUTV)

• On the LGBTQ Community

  • March 22, 2022: Vetoed transgender sports ban, saying: “Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don’t understand what [these kids] are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live.” (Politico)

  • January 28, 2023: Signed S.B. 16, banning gender-affirming care for trans kids (Deseret News)

  • January 30, 2024: Signed H.B. 257, banning trans Utahns from using bathrooms aligning with their gender identity in schools, government building (Fox 13)

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

“Tomorrow the legislature will convene under the guise of an 'emergency'—a convenient excuse to override the will of the people. This is a fear-based power grab by a supermajority. It’s ironic that while we’re told to “disagree better,” the supermajority, with the support of Governor Cox, is changing the rules to avoid genuine debate and dissent. Instead of accepting the Supreme Court’s decision, they’re rewriting the rules of the game. When politicians fear the people, they should be voted out, not rewarded with re-election. This proposed state constitutional amendment is a blatant abuse of authority, and we must stand firm in opposition to it. I will fight to protect the rights of Utahns and uphold freedom and liberty.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ads: “A Place for Pioneers” and “Disagree for the Better”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

Upon the release of the video, Brian King released the following statement: “Let’s be clear: Phil Lyman and I disagree on just about everything. However, one thing we’re on the same page about is that Spencer Cox should not be our next Governor. And Utahns agree: over 60% believe that our state is on the wrong track. Unfortunately, the Spencer Cox who has been in the governor’s office for the last 4 years is not the Spencer Cox who was elected in 2020. Regardless of which side of the aisle you are on, Cox has proven that he is unreliable, unprincipled, and untrustworthy. On this, Phil and I agree. 

“When we started this campaign, we set out to build a broad coalition of pragmatists, made up of Utahns who are looking for change—Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike. That is more important now than ever before. Any Utahn who agrees that our state needs different leadership is welcome in our campaign, and I plan to continue talking to voters of all political backgrounds across the state between now and November.”

Phil Lyman also released a statement, saying “Honesty, integrity, and transparency are the cornerstones of true leadership. Unfortunately, we've witnessed Governor Cox flip-flop on critical issues, saying one thing and doing another. Utah needs leaders with unshakable character—those who will confront challenges head-on and engage in direct, honest conversations to move our state forward. While Representative King and I may not see eye to eye on everything, I've sat beside him in the House for years and have seen his unwavering commitment to his principles and the causes he believes in.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

But someone ought to remind Lt. Governor Henderson who her running mate, Spencer Cox, publicly endorsed for president just a few weeks ago: former President Donald Trump. Governor Cox can’t simultaneously condemn election denial while backing a candidate whose actions on January 6th – not to mention his election interference in both 2016 and 2020, then spreading election denialism – were nothing short of a direct attack on our democracy.

Let’s not forget: Cox himself called the January 6th insurrection “sickening.” Yet, in a baffling display of inconsistency, he’s now chosen to endorse the very person who incited that riot—a man who epitomizes the disregard for the rule of law in hopes of “stealing an election,” a position Cox claims to abhor.

Brian King, the Democratic candidate for Utah Governor, said in a statement, “How many times will we have to point out that Governor Cox only stands on principle when it is politically convenient? The Governor condemns election fraud and denial – except when it comes to Trump. His endorsement of the former president directly contradicts his stance on election integrity, leaving Utahns to wonder: does Cox have any firm principles at this point? 

“While we agree that anyone casting doubt on our election system is unacceptable, Governor Cox, you can’t have it both ways. Utah voters deserve leaders who stand by their principles—not ones who waver whenever it’s politically expedient. In the end, Cox’s attack on Lyman is the very definition of hypocrisy. Pot, meet kettle.” 

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

SALT LAKE CITY — Gubernatorial candidate Brian King knows all too well how difficult it is to be a Democrat in Utah's GOP-dominated Legislature, but says he's learned in his 16 years on Capitol Hill how to work across the aisle to pick up incremental wins.

He compared Democrat's approach in Utah to Avis Car Rental's old corporate motto, "We Try Harder," which it instituted in 1962 to spin the company's status as the second largest rental company in the U.S. behind Hertz.

"We're No. 2, we try hard," King said during an interview with the KSL and Deseret News editorial boards Monday. "Well, Democrats do have to work hard to get things done, but if you make the effort to find common ground and work closely with your colleagues, you can accomplish some excellent things."

King, who previously served as the Utah House Minority Leader and represents Salt Lake City constituents in Utah's House District 23, can't run through the same laundry list of policy wins as his Republican colleagues love to tout, but he said Democrats have "had some very good bills passed and we stopped some bad bills from happening."

Being a Democrat in the Utah Legislature is "very much a David vs. Goliath circumstance," King said, noting at the end of the story, "David wins."

King certainly faces an uphill climb if he wants his story to have a similar conclusion. He is running to replace a popular incumbent in Gov. Spencer Cox, in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to lead it since former Gov. Scott Matheson was reelected in 1980.

In today's highly polarized climate, it's becoming increasingly rare to have a governor represent a state that leans toward an opposing party. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper are currently the only Democratic governors to represent states that voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

But King is hopeful his faith — as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his experience as a lay bishop on his campaign site — will help him with with moderate Republicans and those disaffected by the party's embrace of Trump. He pointed to a letter released last year by the First Presidency of the church encouraging members not to vote a straight ticket in elections.

"I think that statement from the First Presidency has encouraged me greatly," King said. "Young voters, even LDS voters, are much more inclined to look at Democrats and say, 'This is something that I want to take a second look at.'"

King said it was "so disappointing" to see Cox — a longtime Trump skeptic — throw his support behind the former president and GOP presidential nominee last month after Trump was struck by a bullet in an attempted assassination. He said the governor's belief the incident would change the former president's approach "rang hollow."

"I like Spencer Cox personally ... but that change was was so disappointing to me," King said.

If King's critiques of Cox's administration are to be summed up in a few words, the representative says he wishes Cox would have "pushed back" more on the Legislature, specifically when it comes to the recent redistricting maps, bills to ban abortion with few exceptions and close elective abortion clinics, limit public access to lawmakers' calendars and a general focus on what he called "culture war issues."

He believes Utah's legislative branch is not representative of Utahns as a whole and has been "co-opted" by the "loudest, most fringe voices" in the Republican Party. If elected, he won't automatically be better able to push back on bills that have overwhelming support from legislative Republicans, but King said he hopes the "subtle" change in having a Democratic governor will give cover to moderate and swing-district Republicans to vote against some of the more contentious proposals.

"They won't have an impact on the most fringe members of the supermajority party," King said, "but there are some moderates in swing districts who will say, 'I need to stand up against my fringe people and I need to support what I'm seeing what the majority of the people of Utah are going to say."

By Brigham Tomco | Deseret News

Democratic state Rep. Brian King said he waded into Utah’s gubernatorial election this year because he believes the Republican Party’s decades-long monopoly on state politics is beginning to show cracks.

Running against Republican Gov. Spencer Cox in a state that regularly elects GOP incumbents by more than 30 percentage points is a “David versus Goliath kind of a situation,” King said. As the former state House minority leader he understands this better than most. But, like in the Biblical story, King believes history is on his side.

“If you have one party controlling both the executive and the legislative branches for 40 years ... you’re going to not have the best results in terms of policies and priorities and a vision that takes into account all the perspectives and all the diversity of the state of Utah,” King told the Deseret News editorial board on Monday.

King, a Latter-day Saint who has made his faith a key theme of his candidacy, said he drew motivation for his long shot campaign from a letter that was read in meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last summer. The letter urged Latter-day Saints to seek out candidates who demonstrate integrity and a devotion to public service “regardless of party affiliation.”

The church has issued statements declaring itself strictly “neutral in matters of party politics.” Members are encouraged to “engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.”

King’s Republican outreach

Utah hasn’t had a Democratic governor since 1984. There hasn’t been a Democratic majority in the state Legislature for even longer. The 29-seat Utah Senate currently has six Democrats and the 75-seat House has 14. But King said he believes Utahns are more open to changing their minds than they have been in a long time.

According to King, several factors — including demographic trends making Utah the youngest state in the nation, a desire for more political balance in the state, and a Republican Party that is divided over its own presidential nominee — could create the support needed to break the Beehive State’s government trifecta.

“How do you win the election? Well, one of the ways is we appeal to folks who are disillusioned and disenchanted with today’s Republican Party,” King said.

After former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley lost to former President Donald Trump in the Utah GOP’s preference poll, 56% to 43%, King issued a statement saying to Haley voters who felt their party no longer spoke for their “priorities and values” that they had a home in his candidacy.

King made a similar gesture to Republicans when Utah Gov. Spencer Cox reversed his longtime position toward Trump with an endorsement that came shortly after Trump was shot.

King has even welcomed comments from Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, who lost to Cox in the GOP primary, where Lyman suggests that a vote for King is better than a vote for Cox in the general election.

“I’ve never talked less about political party than I have in this election,” King said. “We are building a coalition of pragmatists in this campaign.

”In his reelection campaign, Cox has focused on his record during his first term as governor, including delivering tax cuts and leading efforts on litigation and legislation to protect children from the harms of social media. He has also made his national campaign “Disagree Better” key to his reelection efforts, something King has criticized Cox for.

Where does King stand on the issues?

Despite the electoral reality that he needs to persuade Republican voters, King said he is unwilling to shy away from his deeply-held Democratic views. His campaign website expresses support for increased public school funding, implementing higher taxes on the wealthy, investing in “green jobs” and expanding low-income healthcare programs.

During the state’s last legislative session, King was an outspoken critic of Cox’s decisions to back Republican bills on elected officials’ calendars, banning some diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and increasing penalties for individuals who use public bathrooms that don’t match their biological sex.

As minority leader, King also proposed gun control legislation requiring universal background checks on gun sales and led opposition to Utah’s 2020 abortion prohibition.

“We’ve learned that there are all sorts of things in the context of policy that don’t translate well from religious doctrine or practice or policies, and abortion is one of them,” King said.

King said he is personally against elective abortions. But he doesn’t think the law should be so strict on what he says is a “nuanced” issue. King said he doesn’t believe life begins with conception, and also said he doesn’t believe in abortions being legal up until the moment of birth.

If he were governor, King said he would support legislation that recognized a legal right to abortion up to fetal viability, or some other “reasoned, logical and supported line to be drawn” with the consensus of voters and medical experts.

While he generally aligns with the national Democratic Party on abortion, King said he finds plenty of room for disagreement, too. He said he thinks Democrats are often too focused on “identity politics,” basing ideological and policy views on “immutable characteristics” like race, ethnicity and sex.

“I don’t think that those are helping both the Democrats themselves and the broader group of people that they seek to represent,” King said.

The importance of political balance

King recognizes the many successes of Utah governance, including a great economy and rapid growth. These are things Cox points to in his own reelection campaign.

But King said he would use his veto authority to send a signal to legislators to be more thoughtful with their legislation. And if he is unable to influence legislation because of supermajority support, then King said he would use his platform to educate Utah voters on the issues.

The Legislature’s decision to reject redistricting recommendations from an independent commission, and to restrict access to elected officials’ calendars, were missed opportunities for Cox to veto legislation that hurt public trust in government, King said.

“Political balance is incredibly important,” he said. “We will go out, and as persuasively as possible, say, ‘Here are the good things that you’re going to realize in your day to day life, if we have better balance in the political makeup of the state of Utah.”

King will debate Cox on Sept. 11 at an event hosted by the Utah Debate Commission, he said. The general election is on Nov. 5.

“Today’s ruling is a win for Utah families. While this case will now go back to the district court, by upholding the injunction, the Supreme Court made clear that the legislature and the governor likely overreached their authority and violated the constitutional rights of Utahns. But despite today’s victory, this bill should never have been passed or signed into law in the first place. We shouldn’t have to rely on the courts to protect us from our own leaders. 

“As Utahns, we value agency and freedom, and we believe that the government has no place dictating the most personal, private decisions in our lives. You deserve a governor who respects your family enough to stand up for that freedom instead of putting it on the chopping block in pursuit of partisan political interests.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

Brian King, Democratic nominee for Utah Governor, released the following statement in response:

“After publicly declaring just days ago that he would not vote for Donald Trump this November, Governor Cox has now kissed the ring and given his full endorsement to Trump, a convicted felon. This is the same Trump who, just last night, called for mass deportations and lied about the 2020 election results. You deserve a governor who won’t leave you wondering if today’s the day he’ll have the political courage to do what’s right, or if he’ll continue pandering to outside pressure, special interests, donors, and extremists in his party. This is another example of Governor Cox not sticking to principles but going where the wind blows him. We’re building a coalition of pragmatists, not purists, who want honest, common-sense leadership back in the Governor’s office. If you agree, join us — for the better.”

BACKGROUND:

• July 19, 2024 - Utah governor… offers endorsement - Politico

  • “I am doing everything I can to help and support him”

  • “I have told everyone that you are going to win the state of Utah and you are going to win the presidency again.”

• July 11, 2024 - Cox won’t vote for Trump - Newsweek 

  • “so I've said I'm not going to vote for either presidential candidate this year, I'll write somebody in as I've done in the past."

• February 16, 2024 - Trump is going to win, Utah governor says. But both parties are ‘making a huge mistake’- Standard Examiner

  •  “if Republicans were to nominate "literally anyone else" -- they would win the general election handily”

• August 17, 2023 - Gov. Cox doesn’t think Trump can win in 2024, approves Utah GOP opting out of presidential primary - KSL 

  • “I would like the next president in the 2024 election to be a Republican,” Cox told reporters “And I don’t think that Donald Trump can win the presidency as the Republican nominee.”

• January 11, 2021- Good Morning America 

  • “I certainly think it would be good for the nation if [Trump] were willing to resign,” 

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

Democratic nominee for Utah Governor, Rep. Brian King, responded with the following statement: “I’m thrilled by the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling this morning, which upholds the principles laid out in our state constitution: that all political power resides inherently in the people. This decision, reached after careful deliberation, corrects the legislature’s actions that undermined the voters' intentions by gerrymandering our electoral maps and diminishing Utahns’ voices. Governor Spencer Cox, my opponent, signed these gerrymandered maps into law three years ago, despite acknowledging that the legislature drawing their own maps is a clear conflict of interest. Even today, the Governor expressed disagreement with aspects of the Court’s analysis and findings. This conflicts with the will of the people when they passed the redistricting initiative. Utahns are fed up with politicians who ignore their voices, and this court ruling marks a significant advancement for democracy. As Governor, I will be committed to upholding this precedent and ensuring that the rights of Utahns are respected.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.

 “I want to give a big thank you to Calvin and Anne, the owners of the King’s English, for hosting us today.” Said King. “Rebekah and I are running to bring people of all backgrounds together, and we are excited to continue making this campaign a place for those tired of the vitriol in politics and looking for something better.” 

Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate Rebekah Cummings said, “Growing up, I always found solace in books. Now, as a librarian and a mom, I know how vital reading is to the success of our children. That’s why Brian and I are committed to protecting intellectual freedom and defending against censorship, and why we will continue to champion pragmatic, family-centered governance.”

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Brian King represents District 23 in the Utah State House of Representatives. Elected in 2008, he also served as the House Minority Leader from 2015 to 2023. In addition to his role in public service, Brian is a practicing attorney and business owner. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Ann, accompanied by the delightful presence of their dog, Cora. Brian has four daughters, three stepchildren, and three grandchildren. Watch the campaign’s most recent ad: “A Place for Pioneers”. To learn more about Brian’s campaign for governor, visit kingforutah.com.