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Sen. Daniel Hemmert takes a phone call during the first day of the legislative session held at the Utah State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Salt Lake City.

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

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Rep. Keven Stratton, candidate for Utah State Senate District 24, talks with delegates at the Utah County Republican Convention on April 20, 2024.

Carlene Coombs

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Former state Sen. Dan Hemmert, who had been a Republican candidate for state Senate District 24 this year, has withdrawn from the race, leaving current Rep. Keven Stratton as the only Republican left in the race.

Hemmert announced his decision last week in an opinion piece published in the Deseret News outlining why he made the choice, mainly to focus on his family.

“After long consideration and discussion with my family, I’m going to dedicate my next chapter to my family, and right now that’s how I want my life measured,” he wrote. “So … I have decided not to run for the Senate this cycle.”

Hemmert said in the article that he still believed he had a “good shot” at being elected but there are other ways for him to serve.

“I believe public service is a calling and applaud those willing to answer that call,” he said. “I believe that government affects more people’s lives, for good or bad, than almost anything else. But, I also believe I can find other ways to serve than at the state Legislature.”

Hemmert served in the Utah Senate for one term beginning in 2017 and is the former executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

After the Utah GOP convention last month, Hemmert and Stratton were the two Republican candidates for the seat heading to the primary in June. Former Rep. Brad Daw, who also had filed to run, did not get enough delegate support to move forward and didn’t gather signatures.

Without Hemmert in the race, Stratton will move through the primaries to the general election in November. Utah Forward candidate David Hinckley also is running in the race.

Sen. Curt Bramble, who currently serves Senate District 24, announced his retirement in March after 24 years in the Legislature. His district contains parts of Orem, Provo and Wasatch County.

Stratton currently is serving in House District 58, which encompasses parts of Orem and Lindon. Two Republicans — Holly Sweeten and David Shallenberger — are vying for his seat.

Ballots for the primary election will be mailed to voters June 4. Early in-person voting begins June 11 and the primary election date is June 25.

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