Gov. Herbert Wins GOP Primary, Hammers Conservative Challenger Jonathan Johnson

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Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 28, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Incumbent Utah Gov. Gary Herbert scored an impressive win Tuesday night over challenger Jonathan Johnson in the Republican primary, clinching the GOP nomination for the state’s top job in the November 2016 election.

Herbert crushed Johnson — 72 to 28 percent — in a race that had become heated amid influence-peddling allegations leveled against Herbert by the Johnson camp.

The allegations were spurred by the release of a clandestine audio recording in which Herbert can be heard rallying his campaign staff, along with friendly lobbyists, to fill his election coffers.

“However we want to do this — if we want to have multiple meetings or we sit down and talk, and you give us a check later or before — however you would like to do it, I’ll just say I’m available,” Herbert said. “I’m Available Jones.”

Despite the revelations, Herbert rolled to landslide victory, hammering Johnson by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.

Johnson, chairman of the multi-million dollar Utah-based business Overstock.com, made a congratulatory phone call to Gov. Herbert at about 9:30 p.m.

Johnson also made a statement on Persicope to his loyal followers.

“Thank-you for your support,” he said. “It’s been a great race.”

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