As Republican Party looks to future without Trump in office, Utah could be a road map

Candidates Phil Lyman and Rep. Celeste Maloy smile at the end of the 3rd Congressional District GOP primary debate in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 1. Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool hide caption toggle caption Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool As the Republican Party nationally begins to grapple with what it looks like after President Trump leaves office, Utah could provide a road map. A solidly Republican state, the last time Utah voters backed a Democrat for president was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Despite its conservative roots, Utah has always had a complicated relationship with Trump. Utahns gave him the smallest margin of victory out of any Republican state in 2016 — less than 50% of the vote. While Trump increased his support among Utahns in 2020 and 2024, he never exceeded 60%. Republican candidates vying for Congress this primary election cycle are steadfast conservatives, but they aren't using Trump's name on the campaign trail. That is likely intentional, according to Chris Karpowitz, political science professor at Brigham Young University, as campaigning on Trump and his policies might not appeal to Utah voters in the same way it would in other red states. "There's many Republican voters in Utah who have sort of made their peace with Donald Trump enough to vote for him," Karpowitz said. …