Shepherd’s lead grown slightly from preliminary voting results released Tuesday evening, with the candidate currently leading by an approximate 53%-47% split, about a 200-vote difference.

State Sen. Heidi Balderree has maintained her lead against two primary challengers since polls closed Tuesday night. The current senator is ahead by almost 1,000 votes, collecting about 47% of the total votes. Emily Lockhart is next with over 35% and Garrett Cammans gained nearly 18%. Besides Balderree, a Republican, seemingly will retain her office, as no other party has filed for the seat.

Statewide races for state auditor and attorney general had party winners declared late Tuesday night, with The Deseret News reporting that former Utah GOP party chair Derek Brown succeeded in the race for attorney general and The Salt Lake Tribune reporting Tina Cannon as the winner for state auditor. Four other contenders await Brown in the general election coming up in November — Democrat Rudy Bautista, Libertarian W. Andrew McCullough, Michelle Quist of the United Utah Party and Austin Hepworth, who is unaffiliated — while Cannon moves on to face Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Ostler and Democrat Catherine Voutaz.

In the governor’s race, the race was quickly called for Gov. Spencer Cox as polls showed him ahead of his opponent, state Rep. Phil Lyman.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

Utah News Dispatch reported that Lyman has so far refused to concede the race, despite AP calling it for Cox.

Early Wednesday morning, Lyman posted on X calling Cox’s Tuesday night speech “bizarre” and saying there are still votes to be counted. “Call it dangerous if you want, but I’m not buying it,” he said in the post.

According to unofficial results posted by the state, Cox leads with about 57% and Lyman has about 43%. He and current Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson are poised to face Democrats Brian King — currently a state representative — and Rebekah Cummings, Independent American candidates Tommy Williams and Archie Williams III, Libertarians J. Robert Latham and Barry Short as well as the unaffiliated duo of Tom Tomeny and William Taylor come November.

In House District 58, David Shallenberger still leads with about 57% to Holly Sweeten’s 43%. Democrat Joshua Sorensen awaits in the general election.

In State School Board District 10, Monic Wilbur lost her early lead and is now trailing behind incumbent Matt Hymas, who has garnered 53.48% of the vote so far. The winner will face Democrat Deborah Gatrell in November.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

And in State School Board District 13, Randy Boothe has stayed ahead with just under 54% and Cari Bartholomew collecting 46%. No other parties have put a candidate forward.

Senate candidates and Utah politicians react to John Curtis win

Rep. John Curtis quickly amassed a victory Tuesday night, with AP calling the race in his favor just 23 minutes after polls closed.

Shortly after, former Utah House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Brad Wilson congratulated Curtis on winning the race.

“I congratulate John Curtis on winning the nomination,” Wilson posted on X. “It’s been a wonderful experience to campaign across the state and meet so many incredible people along the way.”

Jason Walton, another U.S. Senate candidate, called Curtis on election night to congratulate him and publicly recognized the results on social media Wednesday.

“Congressman Curtis, his team, and his supporters ran a great campaign,” Walton posted on X along with a photo of him and Curtis. “The people have spoken and I respect their decision.”

Trent Staggs, who had received the GOP party nomination at the Utah Republican Convention and was second in Tuesday’s results, has yet to comment on the race.

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee made a stop at Curtis’ election party in Provo on Tuesday night, congratulating him and noting that, so far, Curtis managed to get at least 50% of the vote in a four-way primary. As of Wednesday afternoon, Curtis had 50.7% of the vote.

U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney also congratulated Curtis, posting on social media that Curtis is a “man of honor and integrity who cares deeply about our fellow citizens and the future of our country. We need more leaders like him. Utahns will be very fortunate to have him represent our state in the Senate next year.”

Curtis will go on to face Democratic nominee Caroline Gleich, a professional skier, in the general election. One Independent American candidate, Carlton E. Bowen, also has filed to run in the race.

In his victory speech Tuesday night, Curtis briefly got emotional while thanking his family, voters and donors for their support.

“Figuring out how to say thank you is just very difficult,” he said, standing next to his wife, Sue, and their children and grandchildren. “And you can’t say thank you without saying first of all, thank you to my family.”

Going forward, Curtis said he’s taking on the motto “In unity, there is strength.”

“We must unify as a country. And if we unify, we can beat any foe and solve any problem,” he told the crowd in Provo.