Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens has declined to debate his GOP challenger. Utah 4th Congressional District candidate Jake Hunsaker calls Owens a coward and that he’s terrified of tough questions.
Utah Debate Commission debates between Republican congressional and Senate candidates will go on as scheduled next week, though most incumbents plan to skip the event.
Most Utah Republican incumbents running for Congress and U.S. Senate Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Chris Stewart, Rep. Burgess Owens, Rep. Chris Stewart and Rep. John Curtis will skip Utah Debate Commission debates. The Utah Republican Party encouraged candidates not to participate in the bipartisan commission’s debates. The Utah GOP says it will hold its own primary debates.
Sen. Mike Lee faces a primary challenge that could show how vulnerable he is to Evan McMullin in November. Other Utah races will show whether moderates have any strength.