What you need to know about Utah’s new senator

Rep. John Curtis will be Utah’s next member of the U.S. Senate.
The race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney was called by The Associated Press shortly after polls closed on Tuesday night. Romney announced in September 2023 that he would not be seeking reelection after his first, and last, six-year term in office.
A large field of Republican candidates quickly declared their intentions to fill the open senate seat but Curtis carried a clear lead in the polls and fundraising numbers before going on to win the GOP primary with a near-majority of votes. Curtis defeated his Democratic opponent, Caroline Gleich, by over 30 percentage points in the general election.
Curtis received the promotion from Utah voters after seven years representing the state’s 3rd Congressional District and nearly eight years serving as Provo mayor. Curtis, known for spearheading a conservative approach to environmental policy, centered his Senate campaign on what he called “Utah values,” arguing for a pragmatic approach to cutting the debt, competing with China and supporting former President Donald Trump.
Here’s what you need to know about Utah’s newest U.S. senator.
Curtis’ pragmatic approach became the target of criticism from primary and general election challengers. His Republican opponents criticized his interest in clean energy and his views on Trump, while his Democratic opponents argued he had not done enough to address climate change or to distance himself from the extreme wings of his party.
Instead of defending his loyalty to the GOP, or abandoning it, Curtis has said he is best defined by “Utah values,” like hard work, self-reliance and charity, that might not fit neatly under conservative, moderate or liberal labels.