Staff Reports
Four dedicated Republican candidates took the stage in a fiery debate for Utah’s open Senate seat, where Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs made waves by suggesting that Rep. John Curtis might be involved in insider trading. Staggs questioned Curtis's integrity, pointing to a stock purchase in Abbott Laboratories that coincided with the company's receipt of a federal grant, implying Curtis might be prioritizing personal gain over serving Utahans.
This allegation became the focal point of the spirited hour-long debate, where frontrunner Curtis squared off against Staggs, former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, and Jason Walton. These candidates are vying to succeed retiring Senator Mitt Romney. In the closing moments, Curtis firmly denied the accusation, challenging Staggs to back up his claims with concrete evidence, and cautioned that Utah's citizens deserve better than baseless smear tactics.
Utah GOP candidate accuses Rep. John Curtis of insider trading on air https://t.co/yCncwjfVCc via @dcexaminer
— Fearless45 (@Fearless45Trump) June 11, 2024
After the debate, Curtis rebuked Staggs’s allegations as a “cheap shot,” highlighting the irony of Staggs’s campaign rhetoric against the so-called “dirtiness of Washington.” Staggs, unwavering, reiterated his concerns about potential conflicts of interest when a member of Congress trades stock on the same day a company benefits from federal funding.
This Senate race is also seen as a barometer of Donald Trump’s enduring influence in Utah. Curtis stands out as the only candidate who hasn’t explicitly endorsed Trump for reelection, though he remains committed to supporting the Republican nominee. The primary victor will contend with Democratic candidate Caroline Gleich, an environmental activist, in the upcoming November election.
