Republican Spencer Cox has reeled in more than $2.1 million in contributions this year for his re-election campaign, just over half of the $4 million he raised in 2020. Most of Cox's campaign cash comes from deep-pocketed individuals, political action committees and corporations.
- More than 60% of Cox's contributions came from 60 donors who gave $10,000 or more.
- A dozen donors, including Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, contributed at least $50,000 to Cox's re-election effort. Those contributions accounted for nearly one-third of all the money Cox has raised this year.
- Nearly seven of every 10 dollars donated to Cox's campaign came from political action committees or corporations. Those entities have given more than $1.46 million to Cox this year.
- Less than 5% of the money contributed to Cox in 2024 came from donations below $1,000.
Cox lists $129,000 in in-kind donations from a nonprofit called "All In for Utah." His disclosure forms say the contributions were for producing text messages and digital ads in support of his campaign.
All in for Utah is headed by longtime Cox ally Owen Fuller. The group's website and records filed with the state claim it is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, but no filing is available on the Internal Revenue Service website.
Phil Lyman, who is mounting a long-shot write-in bid after losing in the Republican primary, has raised nearly as much as Cox this year. However, more than half of the $1.65 million in contributions come from a shadowy company tied to the Lyman family.
Government Leadership Solutions has made five donations to Lyman's campaign totaling $950,000. According to business records, Chris Webb is listed as the sole officer for the Lehi-based company. Webb is also vice president of Lyman Family Farm. Government Leadership Solutions and Lyman Family Farm share the same Lehi address with Greenwave Financial. Joseph Hunt, the president of Greenwave Financial, is also president of Lyman Family Farm.
Lyman's campaign listed a massive $470,000 loan from former BYU football player Johnny Slavens, who ran for Congress in Texas in 2016. Lyman's campaign repaid that loan in full in July.
Donations of less than $1,000 make up about 15% of Lyman's total. He has raised more than 2.5 times from small donations than Cox.
Democrat Brian King has raised just $527,000. Nearly three-fourths of the contributions to King came from donors who gave less than $1,000.
Where is all that cash going?
Since January, Cox has spent nearly $784,000 on advertising. He has also donated more than $190,000 to other Republican candidates, the largest of which was $50,000 to Republican Attorney General candidate Derek Brown.
Cox's campaign hired Brandon Flowers, front man for The Killers, to perform a private concert for his annual gala fundraiser last month. That solo show cost Cox $100,000. His disclosures show two $50,000 payments to William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, the talent agency representing Flowers.
Lyman's campaign reported spending a jaw-dropping $1 million on advertising this year. Between May 13 and June 27, his campaign spent at least $900 a day running ads on Facebook. In total, Facebook ads cost Lyman more than $175,000.
Lyman's campaign has paid $50,000 for advertising and campaign expenses to Liberty Line Consulting, which is owned by Casey Gale. Earlier this month, the Salt Lake County GOP removed Gale from a leadership position after he used a homophobic slur on social media.
Lyman has only made three donations to political groups and candidates this year. In May, he gave $50,000 to the Salt Lake County GOP and $1,500 to Republican Rep. Trevor Lee. In January, his campaign donated $500 to Pro-Life Utah.
King lists spending nearly $70,000 on advertising, most coming in August and September.
Libertarian nominee Robert Latham is largely self-funding his campaign. More than 80% of his campaign funds have come from his pocket. Just 13 donors have contributed $1584 to Latham.
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