Incumbent Republican governor Gary Herbert declined running for re-election to a third full term.

[1][2][3] Utah had not had a Democratic governor since Scott M. Matheson left office in January 1985.

This is the second longest active streak of one-party leadership, trailing only South Dakota, which had not had a Democratic governor since Harvey L. Wollman left office in 1979.

Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox won the general election by defeating the Democratic nominee, University of Utah law professor and former CFPB official Christopher Peterson.

[94][95] Federal officials State officials Local officials Organizations Individuals Graphical summary Polls with Spencer Eccles with only Spencer Cox, Greg Hughes and Jon Huntsman with Generic Democrat with Bishop, Chaffetz, Cox, Dougall, Hughes, Miller, Newton, Reyes and Generic Democrat (D) with Jason Chaffetz, Spencer Cox, Spencer Eccles, Greg Hughes, Ben McAdams, Greg Miller and Josh Romney Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Cox won all 4 congressional districts.