Five Republican challengers for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District to face off on the issues

SALT LAKE CITY –  Five Republican candidates running to become the GOP nominee for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District will debate Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

Republican Rep. John Curtis is vacating Utah’s 3rd Congressional District seat and running for U.S. Senate.

 

The candidates are:

• Roosevelt Mayor J.R. Bird,
• Utah State Auditor John Dougall,
• State Sen. Mike Kennedy,
• entrepreneur Case Lawrence and 
• former Utah County Republican Party Chairman Stewart Peay.

Where GOP primary candidates for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District stand on immigration

• Kennedy endorses completing the southern border wall and using the latest surveillance technology to monitor the U.S.-Mexico.
• Bird also supports a wall at the border. He said the next president should deem drug cartels operating at the border as terrorist organizations.
• Peay said that, if elected, he will “strongly” support border-enforcement policies and patrol agents.
• Dougall said he would strengthen the border and national defense.
• Case Lawerence told Deseret News: ” … there is more political will to reform the country’s immigration system than ever before.”

The GOP primary candidates for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District on the economy

• Kennedy said he would grow the economy and move toward energy independence. He also seeks to cut unnecessary regulations for job creators.
• Bird said he would bring stability to energy producers by adopting a long-term energy policy. He would also reactivate liquid natural gas permitting and exploration on federal lands. 
• Peay said he would support small businesses and lower taxes to revive the economy. If elected, he vowed to push for a balanced budget amendment every year he’s in Congress.
• Lawrence told the Daily Herald: As an entrepreneur, ” . . . I know how to create jobs. I will take this experience with me to Washington, D.C. to be a leader on economic growth.”
• Dougall said reckless spending is fueling inflation. Every U.S. family’s financial health and the nation’s economic strength are being diluted by “Congress effectively printing too much money.”

Abortion: Where GOP primary candidates for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District stand

• Kennedy said he was “100%” anti-abortion in his voting record as a state senator. He said his policies protect the vulnerable and affirm life’s value from conception to the natural end of life.
• Bird said he is an anti-abortion candidate and advocates adoption reforms that make it easier for children to find families.
• Peay said he supports the landmark Dobbs decision. He would support abortion for limited circumstances, such as rape, incest or preserving a mother’s health.
• “Now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, I believe it is important to let abortion restrictions and legislation play out at the state level,” Lawrence told The Salt Lake Tribune.
• Dougall does not support a national abortion ban, but supports restrictions at the state level, adding the same exceptions for rape, incest and preserving a mother’s health.

How to listen to the debate

KSL NewsRadio will carry the debate live. beginning at 6 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, July 12, 2024. Listen on 102.7 FM or 1160 AM, and stream on KSL NewsRadio’s website or YouTube channel.

Related reading: Utah Republican primary election debate schedule for 2024