Cox, Peterson to debate live tonight in race to be Utah’s governor

Democrat Chris Peterson and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, pictured in these 2020 file photos, are running for Utah governor. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — The two major-party candidates in the Utah governor’s race, Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and Democratic University of Utah law professor Chris Peterson, are squaring off tonight for what is expected to be their final debate before the November election.

Cox and Peterson will take the stage at 6 p.m. for the Utah Debate Commission’s hourlong gubernatorial debate, held at KSL-TV and hosted by longtime radio show host Doug Wright. The debate will be broadcast live by KSL-TV and KSL Newsradio as well as other Utah TV stations, and will stream live on Deseret.com.

How the state is handling the COVID-19 pandemic, including the recent record spike in cases as well as the economic fallout from the deadly virus, is likely to dominate much of the debate. The candidates are also likely to address racial issues related to policing, population growth, education and other concerns facing Utahns.

The pair participated in two virtual candidate forums last week, at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Salt Lake Chamber, as well as in a debate during the Utah League of Cities and Towns’ virtual annual convention.

They are competing to succeed Gov. Gary Herbert, who did not seek reelection after more than a decade in office.

Cox, named Herbert’s lieutenant governor in 2013, secured his party’s nomination by defeating three other Republican contenders in the June 30 primary — former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright.

Peterson did not have a primary race.

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