SALT LAKE CITY — Preliminary results for attorney general in Utah show incumbent Sean Reyes leading the polls at 65.52% with Skordas trailing behind at 29.62%. However, these numbers are not final and are expected to change as ballots are processed and counted over the coming days. 

Reyes has served as attorney general since 2013. However, Skordas said he decided to throw his hat in the ring after being frustrated by the incumbent’s decisions. 

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A contentious race

The race for attorney general in Utah has been slightly contentious, with a heated debate between the two candidates last month. 

The two disagreed strongly on several areas, such as healthcare and the Black Lives Matter movement. While Reyes argued the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, Skordas said it must stay in place until there’s a plan to replace it. 

“No one’s going to have their health insurance taken away,” Reyes said during the Oct. 22 debate. “The court’s not going to allow that.”

“Of course they are,” Skordas interrupted. “Of course they are. If you do away with the Affordable Care Act, there won’t be affordable care. Don’t say that.”

The debate ended with Reyes reading off negative comments and reviews about Skordas that he pulled from the internet. Skordas fired back arguing the incumbent has “never prosecuted a case” and “wouldn’t know how.”