Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is coming to Utah to endorse 3rd Congressional District candidate Chris Herrod as Gov. Gary Herbert throws his support behind Herrod’s main challenger.
Cruz will be coming to Lehi this Saturday, July 29 to campaign for Herrod, who’s running to replace former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.
Herrod picked up Cruz’s endorsement last month in addition to Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Herrod, a former state lawmaker, helped direct the Utah campaign of Sen. Cruz, who won the state's Republican presidential caucus by a large margin.
The visit comes as Herrod’s primary challenger, Provo Mayor John Curtis, picked up a big endorsement Tuesday from Gov. Gary Herbert.
In a statement, Herbert said Curtis would get things done in Washington and is a proven conservative leader.
Curtis is considered the frontrunner in the GOP race over both Herrod and investment adviser Tanner Ainge.
Ainge has also picked up several endorsements from Republican state lawmakers within the district, including longtime Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.
Endorsements can help candidates bolster their party credentials while increasing media exposure and voter turnout.
The three GOP candidates have been angling for endorsements that spotlight their conservative bonafides.
The winner of next month’s primary will face off against Democrat Kathie Allen on November 7.
