Derek Brown, center, candidate for Utah attorney general, attends at an election night event hosted by the Utah Republican Party in Draper, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
Utah’s next attorney general, auditor and treasurer will all likely be Republicans, according to early election results Tuesday.
Derek Brown is poised to be the state’s next attorney general; Tina Cannon will most likely become auditor; and Marlo Oaks, the only incumbent among the three, will continue serving as Utah’s treasurer.
Each candidate is holding on to at least 57% of the vote.
Utah attorney general
Brown, a former chairman of the Utah Republican Party, Utah state lawmaker and staffer for Sen. Mike Lee, emerged from a crowded field with about 57% of the vote.
Democrat Rudy Bautista had about 30%; United Utah candidate Michell Quist had 7%; Libertarian Andrew McCullough had 3%; and Independent Austin Hepworth had nearly 3%.
Brown is hoping to take control of an office marred by years of controversy. Current Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes decided not to run for reelection amid scandal stemming from his ties with embattled anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard, who is being sued for sexual harassment.
Reyes’ predecessor, John Swallow, served in 2013 and was accused of extorting money and favors from a wealthy businessman who had reached a plea deal with the office. He was acquitted at trial. Prior to Swallow was Mark Shurtleff, who served from 2001 to 2013 and was charged with bribery and accepting gifts. Those charges were later dropped.
Brown, speaking to a packed room at the South Mountain Golf Course where the GOP hosted its watch party Tuesday night, congratulated his opponents on running “positive” campaigns.
“I appreciate positivity, I appreciate the hard work, they forced us to work even harder and sometimes that’s a good thing as a candidate, it forces you to really be clear about why you are running,” Brown said, telling the room he was hopeful that Trump would win the presidency.
“One of the things I want to do as attorney general is to stop the federal government from putting its fingers into every aspect of the state of Utah,” he said. “If we have a Trump White House, my friends, the job will be so much easier.”
Utah auditor
In the race to become Utah’s next auditor, Cannon is holding onto about 62% of the vote. Democrat Catherine Voutaz received about 34%, while Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Ostler had 4.5%.
Cannon already serves as the state’s Deputy State Auditor, and jumped in the race after the Utah Auditor John Dougal announced his unsuccessful bid for the 3rd Congressional District.
As auditor, Cannon will be tasked with providing residents and government officials with an independent assessment of finances, performance management and lawful compliance for state and local governments.
Utah treasurer
Utah Auditor Marlo Oaks, who has held the seat since 2021, is holding onto a comfortable 63% of the vote as of Tuesday. Democrat Neil Hansen has about 33%, while Miles Pomeroy with the Utah Forward Party has about 5%.
Oaks will serve a four-year term as treasurer, which is essentially the state’s chief financial officer. The treasurer manages Utah’s banking, debt and investment of public funds, while administering the state’s Unclaimed Property Division.
Utah’s election results will be final following the statewide canvass on Nov. 25.