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Senate advances plan to move Utah presidential primary earlier as part of Western States effort
Summary
Senate voted to move SB 60 to third reading; the bill would set the presidential primary on the first Tuesday in February of presidential years to coordinate a Western States Primary. Senators raised fiscal concerns (fiscal note estimated $850,000) and asked whether other states would synchronize dates.
Senate Bill 60, proposed by Senator Knudson, would move Utah’s presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February of presidential years as part of a Western States Primary effort intended to attract candidate attention to western issues. Knudson argued a unified early date would increase the region’s relevance in presidential nominating contests and draw campaign engagement on issues like public lands, water and regional priorities.
Senators questioned whether other primaries would need to be moved or whether the state would hold a separate presidential primary in addition to the regular June primary. Senator Wadobs and others raised concerns about whether other states would participate; one senator referenced Idaho’s estimate that an additional, standalone presidential primary could cost roughly $1.2 million. The sponsor said the fiscal note for Utah was estimated at $850,000 and that negotiations with other Western states were ongoing to make a coordinated primary realistic.
The Senate voted to read SB 60 for the third time; the clerk recorded a floor tally of 26 yes, 1 no, and 2 absent at that stage.
