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Evan McMullin
Evan McMullin (independent) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Utah. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
McMullin was an independent candidate for president of the United States. On August 8, 2016, McMullin announced his candidacy, a run that NPR reported was the beneficiary of ballot access work by the group Better for America.[1] From January 2015 to early 2016, he was the chief policy director for the House Republican Conference, specializing in foreign affairs and national security.
Biography
Evan McMullin earned a degree from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. McMullin's career experience includes working as an operations officer with the CIA, the chief policy director of the House Republican Conference, an advisor to the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives, and an investment banker with Goldman Sachs. He co-founded Stand Up Republic.[2][3][4][5]
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Utah, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Utah
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Utah on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Lee (R) | 53.2 | 571,974 |
 | Evan McMullin (Independent) | 42.7 | 459,958 | |
 | James Arthur Hansen (L)  | 3.0 | 31,784 | |
| Tommy Williams (Independent American Party of Utah) | 1.1 | 12,103 | ||
 | Laird Hamblin (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 152 | |
| Michael Seguin (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 60 | ||
 | Abe Korb (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 37 | |
| Total votes: 1,076,068 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Allen Glines (D)
- Austin Searle (D)
- Nick Mitchell (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah
Incumbent Mike Lee defeated Becky Edwards and Ally Isom in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Lee | 61.9 | 258,089 |
 | Becky Edwards | 29.7 | 123,617 | |
 | Ally Isom | 8.4 | 34,997 | |
| Total votes: 416,703 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ty Jensen (R)
- Benjamin Davis (R)
- Brendan Wright (R)
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. James Arthur Hansen advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Utah.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. Senate Utah
No candidate advanced from the convention.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
 | Kael Weston (D) | 43.2 | 594 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 56.8 | 782 | ||
Vote totals may be incomplete for this race. | ||||
| Total votes: 1,376 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for U.S. Senate Utah
The following candidates ran in the Republican convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Lee (R) | 70.7 | 2,621 |
| Becky Edwards (R) | 11.8 | 436 | |
| Ally Isom (R) | 9.7 | 358 | |
 | Jeremy Friedbaum (R) | 3.6 | 132 | |
 | Evan Barlow (R) | 2.0 | 75 | |
| Loy Arlan Brunson (R) | 1.9 | 71 | ||
| Laird Hamblin (R) | 0.3 | 12 | |
| Total votes: 3,705 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Constitution convention
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Alton Anderson (Constitution Party)
Independent American Party of Utah convention
Independent American Party of Utah convention for U.S. Senate Utah
Tommy Williams advanced from the Independent American Party of Utah convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Tommy Williams (Independent American Party of Utah) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Utah
James Arthur Hansen defeated Lucky Bovo in the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| Lucky Bovo (L) | ||
| ✔ | | James Arthur Hansen (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Presidential campaign, 2016
On August 8, 2016, McMullin announced that he was launching an independent campaign for president. According to NPR, McMullin's campaign was aided by the political group Better for America and political strategist Rick Wilson.[1] In an interview with The New York Times, McMullin said that his motivation for entering the race was his opposition to the way Republican candidate Donald Trump spoke of veterans and their families. McMullin told the paper, "Really what’s impacted me is the way Trump’s treated our veterans, our heroes. ... The things he said about John McCain, the things he said about the Khan family, and Mrs. Khan."[6]
In an interview with ABC News later that day, he identified abortion and taxes as the two key issues for his presidential run, calling abortion "a test of our humanity" and that "we need to lower taxes across the board."[7]
On his website, McMullin posted a "letter to America" declaring his candidacy. The letter read, in part:[8]
| “ | Millions of Americans are not being represented by either of these candidates. ... With the stakes so high for our nation and at this late stage in the process, I can no longer stand on the sidelines. Our country needs leaders who are in it for the right reasons and who actually understand what makes this country the greatest on earth.[9] | ” |
Comments on Donald Trump
In an interview with ABC News on August 8, 2016, McMullin voiced his opposition to Trump, saying, "I do not trust him to make decisions with our military, whatsoever, with the lives of the men and women serving in our armed forces and intelligence services. He's already demonstrated that he doesn't respect them or their families—his attacks on American heroes like the Khan family and like John McCain. This is somebody we cannot trust with the lives of those who are already risking their lives, too. He is inhuman. Donald Trump does not care about anyone other than himself."[10]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Evan McMullin did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
McMullin's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
PRIORITIES FOR RENEWAL Since its birth, our nation has faced many challenges and yet every American generation has risen to overcome them. Today, however, our broken politics prevent us from meeting the major challenges of our time, which weaken our nation and harm our quality of life in Utah. Health care costs, inflation, and political extremism are rising, our air and water are at risk, and various threats to public safety and national security persist. The bitter partisanship, radicalism, and disregard for truth plaguing our public discourse only benefit self-serving politicians and will never solve our problems. Over the past five years, it’s become increasingly clear that the future of our nation urgently requires a new politics, one that holds to principle but still finds common ground to solve problems. This has been our approach in Utah since the first pioneers arrived nearly 200 years ago. We call it “The Utah Way.” As a result, we’ve found productive ways forward on everything from immigration to healthy economic growth to anti-discrimination and religious freedom to fiscal responsibility and other important issues. We must now bring this kind of leadership to Washington and the rest of the nation. If we do, we can ensure a prosperous future for Utah and America. I’m committed to doing just that and, to that end, I intend to make the following five priorities my focus in the U.S. Senate. 1 – STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY AND STAND UP TO EXTREMISTS Our democratic republic is at risk. Division, extremism and conspiracy promoted by dishonorable politicians now dominate our politics and create dysfunction, chaos and instability in our country. During my CIA service abroad, I saw countries succumb to extremist movements that robbed people of their basic freedoms and placed power in the hands of authoritarian regimes. In order to preserve our system of self-government, which is necessary to ensure liberty and justice for every American, we must reform and strengthen our democracy by:
2 – LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS We have a moral obligation to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care. Yet Americans pay more for health care than anyone else in the world. Too many politicians in Washington focus only on how to pay for continually rising costs of quality care rather than working to lower them. They protect the special interests who benefit at the expense of hard-working families paying thousands of dollars in premiums, deductibles, copays and other costs every month. It’s time to finally start improving care while lowering its financial burden by making sensible reforms including:
3 – REDUCE RECKLESS GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND INFLATION Our national debt has tripled since 2010 and is now approaching $30 trillion. Both major parties have engaged in reckless borrowing and spending that now contribute to high inflation and constrained federal budgets. Hard-working Americans are being overwhelmed by soaring prices for food, rent clothes and other goods. Like many Utahns, I’m concerned about the onerous tax burden that our debt will place on our children and the obstacle it is to our growth now. In addition to lowering the underlying costs of quality health care, we must also take other steps to stabilize our economy and put our national finances on a sustainable path, including:
4 – PROTECT OUR AIR AND WATER Utah is one of the most stunning places on earth. We are fortunate to call it home and tens of millions of others visit from around the world every year. Our responsibility for stewardship of this uniquely beautiful place is great, yet Utah is currently experiencing a historic drought and worsening air quality that threatens our health, prosperity and quality of life. For our children to flourish as we have for years to come, we must take sensible steps to protect these most vital natural resources by:
5 – KEEP AMERICA SAFE Utah was founded by Americans and immigrants, who fled to its mountains in search of freedom, opportunity and safety, and it is still a sanctuary for a rapidly growing population in an increasingly unstable world. We must ensure that it remains so – despite rising threats within and beyond our borders – and that the rest of America continues to be safe for all who call it home. As a former intelligence officer and national security advisor in Congress, I know we can achieve this by:
The United States of America, born of noble ideals and aspiring to high purpose, has been an exemplar of self-government to humankind. Thus, when in our democratic republic, forces of conspiracy, division, and extremism arise, it is the patriotic duty of citizens to act collectively in defense of liberty and justice. We therefore call for an American renewal and do so in partnership with others committed to the preservation of our Union. With abiding belief in the value and potential of every soul and with goodwill for all, we hereby dedicate ourselves to these principles and make common cause in the flourishing of the great state of Utah, America and its diverse states, communities, and citizens. 1. REAFFIRM OUR FOUNDING IDEALS We reaffirm the self-evident truth that all persons are created equal and free, having the same inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that it is the prerogative of all to make personal decisions in accordance with their free will. We therefore condemn all forms of bigotry such as racism, antisemitism and other religious intolerance, sexism, and persecution based on sexual orientation. 2. DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION We uphold the Constitution as the inviolable and collective contract protecting liberty and justice for all, and honor the essential separation and balance it establishes among coequal branches of the federal government and the states. 3. PROTECT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY We seek the preservation and betterment of our democratic republic and the endurance of our self-government, free from foreign interference. We support reforms that make our system more accessible, transparent, and competitive, oppose the intentional disenfranchisement of voters, and reject extremism, whether of the right or the left. 4. SEEK AND PROMOTE TRUTH We recognize truth and reason as essential to a free and just society, and expect our leaders, citizens, and press to seek and promote them. We oppose the employment of fear mongering, conspiracy theories, and falsehoods and instead support evidence-based policymaking and honest discourse. 5. UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW We maintain that the impartial rule of law is essential to a free and just society to protect the rights, safety and property of all people. No one is above the law, including public officials, and our criminal justice system must treat everyone equally without discrimination based on race, status or other unrelated factors. 6. DEMAND ETHICAL GOVERNMENT We demand that public officials and aspiring leaders act in the best interests of the country – even when in conflict with their political parties – and with integrity and honor, the absence of which is a harbinger for abuses of power that threaten the republic. 7. PRESERVE AMERICAN PLURALISM We are committed to a pluralistic society defined by its ideals and welcoming to immigrants rightfully seeking safety, opportunity, and a better life by becoming contributing members of our diverse nation. We reject the notion that America should be defined by the races, birthplaces, religious affiliations, or partisan identities of its founders or groups of citizens. 8. PROMOTE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY We believe that all Americans share civic responsibility, which is essential for our self-government and national success. Thriving communities are built by dutifully engaged citizens and good faith efforts to overcome differences with mutual respect and the bonds of civil affection. The solutions to many of America’s greatest challenges can only be found in our diverse communities. 9. EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY We recognize open, market-based economies as consistent with our natural liberty and the optimal means of ensuring economic mobility and the allocation of scarce resources. Capitalism, while insufficient to address all matters of the public interest, has made America the most prosperous nation on earth and is the engine for innovation and economic growth. We support sensible and limited regulation, including to ensure equal opportunity, and affirm government’s vital role in assisting vulnerable citizens, while encouraging self-reliance without the impediments of cronyism and corruption. 10. SUSTAIN FREEDOM OF SPEECH We reaffirm the Constitution’s guarantee of free speech and freedom of the press as essential to accountable government and the American way of life. We sustain the rights of individuals and private entities to exercise this freedom, even to express unpopular views, and condemn efforts to erode press freedom and public support for its vital role. 11. HONOR OUR CONSERVATION RESPONSIBILITIES We consider vital our shared stewardship of America’s resources – natural, environmental, and financial. We accept responsibility to conserve for ourselves and future generations these public assets, and to protect them from both natural and man-made harms. 12. ADVANCE OUR COMMON DEFENSE AND GENERAL WELFARE We uphold that government is instituted by the people to secure those essential, collective goods that individuals cannot attain for themselves, particularly providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare. We therefore support policies that further public safety, health, and defense as required for enduring national sovereignty and prosperity.[9] |
” |
| —Evan McMullin's campaign website (2022)[11] | ||
Ballots
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NPR, "Meet Evan McMullin, The #NeverTrump Movement's Last Hope," August 8, 2016
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Evan McMullin," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ Evan McMullin for President, "About Evan," accessed August 8, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Five things to know about Evan McMullin," August 8, 2016
- ↑ Evan McMullin for Utah, "Home," accessed June 28, 2022
- ↑ The New York Times, "Evan McMullin, Anti-Trump Republican, Mounts Independent Presidential Bid," August 8, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "Independent Candidate Evan McMullin Says Trump Is 'Inhuman,' Calls Clinton 'Woefully Unfit' to Be President," August 8, 2016
- ↑ Evan McMullin for President, "My Letter to America," August 8, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ ABC News, "Independent Candidate Evan McMullin Says Trump Is 'Inhuman,' Calls Clinton 'Woefully Unfit' to Be President," August 8, 2016
- ↑ Evan McMullin for Utah, “Priorities,” accessed June 18, 2022
