2004 Utah gubernatorial election

Background

In the aftermath of the 2002 Winter Olympics, some Utah political observers briefly speculated that Salt Lake Organizing Committee president Mitt Romney might seek statewide office in Utah, including the governorship. Romney publicly ruled out any Utah campaign as he left the state in March 2002; he then returned to Massachusetts, ran for governor in 2002, and won the general election. Years later, Romney re-entered Utah politics and successfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2018.

In March 2003, Huntsman resigned his post in the Bush administration. In mid-August, three term incumbent Governor Mike Leavitt, whom Huntsman strongly supported, decided not to run for re-election to a fourth term, in order to become the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush administration. Shortly thereafter, Huntsman filed papers to run for Governor of Utah. In November 2003, Lieutenant Governor Olene S. Walker became the Utah's first female governor as Leavitt was confirmed to become EPA Administrator.

Democratic nomination

Scott Matheson, Jr. entered the race on March 27, 2004. He won the May Democratic nomination unopposed.

Republican primary

Convention

Candidates

• Gary Benson, businessman
• James Hansen, U.S. Congressman of Utah's 1st congressional district
• Parley Hellewell, State Senator
• Jon Huntsman, Jr., Trade Ambassador for President Bush's administration and former CEO of Huntsman Chemical Corporation
• Nolan Karras, State Representative
• Fred Lampropoulos, CEO of Merit Medical Systems
• Martin Stephens, State Representative
• Olene Walker, incumbent Governor

Declined

• Mitt Romney, businessman and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics; 1994 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts

Results, first round

Results, final round, instant-runoff

Primary

Candidates

• Jon Huntsman Jr., Trade Ambassador for President Bush's administration and former CEO of Huntsman Chemical Corporation
• Nolan Karras, State Representative

Campaign

Huntsman gained the endorsements from U.S. Senator Jake Garn and former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. Polls showed he was the front-runner.

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R), Trade Ambassador for President Bush's administration and former CEO of Huntsman Chemical Corporation
• Scott Matheson, Jr. (D), U.S. Attorney

Campaign

Jon Huntsman Jr., a former advisor for U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush and son of industrialist Jon Huntsman, Sr.—the founder of Huntsman Chemical Corporation—filed papers to run for governor in September 2003. Jason Chaffetz was his campaign manager. In April 2004, Utah County Commissioner Gary Herbert decided to drop out of the Republican nomination and become Huntsman's running mate. Herbert helped Huntsman with the rural community. Huntsman campaigned on eliminating the sales tax on food and on ethics reform. He proposed that lawmakers have to disclose all their gifts, they have to report monthly their campaign contributions, and they can't work as lobbyists immediately after leaving state government. Huntsman opposed President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act. He said he would leave a label on the door of the governor's office "Economic Development Czar" if he's elected.

U.S. Attorney, former Harvard University professor, and dean of the University of Utah law school Scott Matheson, Jr. won the Democratic nomination unopposed. He is the son of former Utah Governor Scott Matheson who was also the last Democrat to be elected governor of the red state of Utah. He made education the number one priority. He explained how better schools would attract new business. In one television ad, he called himself "Utah's Education Governor." He criticized Huntsman for supporting school choice reform.

Predictions

Polling

In a March Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll, Matheson was leading all the Republicans running for the nomination except for Huntsman and Walker. An early September Jones poll showed Huntsman leading 49%-39%. An October 6 Salt Lake Tribune poll showed Huntsman leading 49%-33%. An October 7 Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll showed Huntsman only leading 49%-40%. An October 29 Salt Lake Tribune poll showed Huntsman leading 50%-36%.

Fundraising

Huntsman raised a little over $3.5 million. Nearly $950,000 of the money raised was from his own personal loans and from family donations. He also raised 100,000 from the Republican Governors Association. Matheson raised almost $2.0 million. About one-fourth of Matheson's funds came from political committees, including $325,000 from the Democratic Governors Association.

Results

Results by county

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• San Juan (largest municipality: Blanding)

Notes

References

References

1. (March 17, 2002). "Is Mitt's mind made up?". Deseret News.
2. (March 18, 2002). "Romney rules out Utah races". Deseret News.
3. (November 6, 2018). "Mitt Romney wins Utah Senate race". PBS NewsHour.
4. Swisher, Larry. "Bush picks Utah governor for EPA".
5. Harrie, Dan. (August 18, 2003). "Leavitt's move is a gamble". Salt Lake Tribune, The.
6. (March 30, 2003). "NewsLibrary".
7. (2003-09-11). "Huntsman Jr. files campaign papers". Deseret News.
8. (2003-11-05). "Walker sworn in as Utah's first female governor".
9. (2004-03-28). "Scott Matheson enters race for governor".
10. (2004-05-09). "No Demo runoffs; protest targets Rep. Matheson".
11. Romboy, Dennis. (November 14, 2011). "Sandstrom announces bid for Utah's new congressional district seat". [[Deseret News]].
12. "Our Campaigns - UT Governor - R Convention Race - May 08, 2004".
13. (2004-05-09). "GOP selects Huntsman, Karras".
14. "May 8, 2004 Utah GOP convention Gubernatorial, US Congressional, and National Committeeman/Comitteewoman race results".
15. (2004-02-13). "Garn endorsing Jon Huntsman Jr".
16. (2004-06-15). "Bush Sr. Backs Huntsman".
17. "Official Results - State of Utah Primary Election June 22, 2004".
18. (2003-09-11). "Huntsman Jr. Files campaign papers".
19. (2004-04-21). "Huntsman, Herbert join forces".
20. Harrie, Dan. (April 21, 2004). "Herbert's rural ties bolster Huntsman ticket". Salt Lake Tribune, The.
21. Harrie, Dan. (January 27, 2004). "Huntsman would end sales tax on groceries". Salt Lake Tribune, The.
22. (January 14, 2004). "NewsBank".
23. (2004-09-12). "Huntsman and Matheson target education".
24. (2004-10-20). "Rhetoric growing sharper in gubernatorial campaign".
25. "The Final Predictions".
26. (2004-09-12). "Mathesons on the march".
27. Harrie, Dan. (October 6, 2004). "Huntsman has a double-digit lead in new poll". Salt Lake Tribune, The.
28. (2004-10-07). "Matheson inches closer".
29. Harrie, Dan. (October 29, 2004). "Matheson needs a big finish". Salt Lake Tribune, The.
30. (2004-10-27). "Matheson 'mild attack ad' criticized".
31. "2004 General Election Canvass".