Utah Representative Warns of Progressive Infiltration in GOP Primaries
Utah Representative Burgess Owens is warning Republicans that progressives are actively working to shift the state leftward by getting involved in GOP primaries. Owens claims that left-leaning national groups are recruiting and funding progressive candidates in Utah, and that some…
Salt Lake City, UT, July 28, 2026 —
U.S. Representative Burgess Owens is sounding an alarm for Republicans in Utah, asserting that progressive groups are strategically targeting the state’s Republican primaries to influence its political direction.
Owens alleges that national left-leaning organizations are actively recruiting and providing financial support for progressive candidates within Utah. He further contends that some Republican candidates are inadvertently hiring campaign firms with connections to the Democratic Party, a practice he describes as indirectly funding the progressive movement.
A specific instance cited involves candidates Stephanie Hollist and Jake Hunsaker. Both candidates reportedly hired Apollo Political, a firm that Owens associates with the Democratic Party. Hollist and Hunsaker subsequently defeated incumbent Republicans in recent primary elections.
When questioned about their choice of campaign firm, Hollist and Hunsaker have reportedly denied any intention to align with left-leaning strategies or to undermine conservative values. However, Owens maintains that this approach constitutes a “subversive model.” According to his argument, this method leverages the financial contributions of Republican donors to support the election of candidates who align with progressive agendas.
The representative’s warning suggests a concern that the Republican Party’s internal electoral processes are being exploited by external progressive forces aiming to alter the political landscape of Utah.
Story summarized from the original created by Cami Mondeaux on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
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