GOP candidates running for the seat left vacant by former Congressman Jason Chaffetz took to the airwaves this week in their first round of TV commercials.
Provo Mayor John Curtis rides a black motorcycle and shoots a pistol in his first TV ad for the 3rd District race.
"Unlike Washington, D.C., in Utah, actions speak louder than words,” he says while riding his chopper.
With less than a month until the GOP primary, Republican candidates are revving up their spending in media buys across the 3rd District that stretches from Salt Lake and Utah counties southeast to San Juan.
Earlier this week, Chris Herrod, the former state lawmaker who won the state party’s nominating convention, began airing ads on at least three stations.
“Republicans in Washington promised to repeal Obamacare and build President’s Trump’s wall," says Herrod in the ad. "And I will.”
Both Herrod’s and Curtis’ ads focus on their conservative record for fiscal responsibility and shrinking the size of government.
The ad purchases follow updated Federal Election Commission reports on fundraising by the candidates.
John Curtis leads the GOP field with $232,000 raised, which includes a loan he took out for his campaign. Ainge has raised close to $131,000 and Chris Herrod has about $79,000.
Michael Malbin is executive director of the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. He says special elections can get expensive if donors believe it’s a competitive race.
“If a race can be nationalized, and if potential donors who care primarily about which party controls the chamber, if they can be reached… then the spending can get much higher,” he says.
The winner of the August 15 primary will face Democrat Kathie Allen, who since January, has brought in more than a half a million dollars for her congressional bid.
FEC Candidate Comparison Chart
