Former Utah lawmaker steps forward to challenge Lee for Senate seat

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A former member of the Utah House of Representatives announced her candidacy Thursday for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Sen. Mike Lee who has held the position since 2011.

Becky Edwards, who served in the Legislature from 2009 to 2018, is from Davis County and is one of the first candidates to officially jump into the Republican race against the two-term senator.

Like most Utahns, I’ve watched as politics have become divisive and dysfunctional,” Edwards said in a news release. “Things need to change. It’s time we have a leader in Washington who will stop bickering, and just put the people of Utah first.”

Edwards plans to seek the party’s nomination at the GOP convention next year but also plans to gather signatures to land on the primary ballot, a spokeswoman said.

Edwards is not the only GOP candidate with interest in Lee’s seat. Lehi resident Brendan Wright, an area planning manager at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced his candidacy in March, the Associated Press reported.

UtahPolicy.com reported in March other possible candidates include Ally Isom, former deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Gary Herbert; and Henry Eyring, an accountant and academic who is also the grandson of Latter-day Saint leader Henry B. Eyring.

A spokesman for Lee’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Edwards’ announcement. But 2News anchor Heidi Hatch recently traveled to Washington, D.C. and, as part of a wide-ranging conversation with both Lee and fellow Sen. Mitt Romney, asked about the prospect of Lee facing multiple challengers.

There’s nothing inherently concerning about the idea that someone else would want to run for a job when it comes open," Lee said.

Editor's note: This article initially reported that Edwards was the first Republican to enter the race against Lee. However, Utah County resident Brendan Wright had also previously announced his candidacy. This article has been updated with that information.