Utah Democrats choose former pick for governor, Brian King, to lead party into 2026 midterms

Just over six months after he lost a long-shot bid to oust incumbent Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Democrats chose former state lawmaker Brian King to steer their party ahead of 2026 midterm elections.

King narrowly came out on top of Ben Peck, a 25-year-old up-and-coming campaign consultant and previous executive director of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party, winning with 52% of the vote Saturday at the Utah Democratic Party’s organizing convention in Ogden.

The contest came as Utah Democrats approach a three-decade losing streak in statewide races and after they failed to make gains in legislative representation last year.

King took the stage before the vote to ask delegates whether they are angry at President Donald Trump and Republicans, and the direction the country is going. Then, he asked: “Who, honestly, is a little mad at the Democrats right now?”




https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/05/31/utah-democrats-former-nominee/