The Republican primary in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District has now entered a recount, with Trump-endorsed incumbent Celeste Malloy (all counties reporting) leading challenger Colby Malloy by just 214 votes Jenkins.
Unofficial results in Utah showed Malloy received 53,748 votes, or about 50.10%, while Jenkins received 53,534 votes, or 49.90% of all votes cast.
Utah law states that “if the difference in votes between the winning candidate and the losing candidate is equal to or less than 0.25% of the total votes cast by all candidates, the losing candidate may request a recount.”
The development comes after Malloy received former President Trump’s “full and complete support” for Jenkins, who was backed by Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee.
Swing state voters say Biden debate performance ‘really made a difference’ in their presidential election decision
Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, listens to Colby Jenkins during a debate for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District on Monday, June 10, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City )’s speech. (Scott G. Winterton/Desert News, Associated Press, Poole)
“Congresswoman Celeste Malloy is a great advocate for the wonderful people of Utah’s 2nd Congressional District!” Trump wrote in a Truth Society post in mid-June. “Celeste is fighting to secure our borders, create jobs, restore American energy independence, support our military/veterans, defend religious freedom, and protect our Second Amendment, which is always under siege.”
Malloy became the running incumbent after winning a special election last fall. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, resigned from the seat he had held since 2013 because his wife was ill.
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, the state’s chief elections officer, told The Associated Press that the recount process could begin after a statewide canvass on July 22. The recount must be conducted within the specified time. All ballots will be recounted, all uncounted ballots will be reexamined, and election officials in each county will tabulate the results.
Trump leads Biden in post-debate polls, in key battleground state
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and Rep. Celeste Malloy, R-Utah, arrive to film her swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., November 28, 2023 (Kevin Dickey/Getty Images)
Jenkins, a retired U.S. Army officer and telecommunications expert, defeated Malloy at the state Republican convention earlier this year, but not by a large enough margin to bypass the primary.
Malloy’s primary victory would give Trump his only victory in Utah this election cycle.
Malloy, who lives north of Zion National Park in Cedar City, began her career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture working to protect natural resources, improve water quality and manage nutrients in the vast farmland of southwestern Utah. As an attorney, she specializes in public lands issues involving soil, water and land ownership. During her brief tenure in Congress, she served on subcommittees focused on water resources and rural development.
And then – Rep. Utah Republican Chris Stewart talks to supporters at an election night party in South Jordan, Utah, on June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Jenkins repeatedly attacked Malloy on the campaign trail for voting in favor of recent bipartisan spending bills. The congresswoman defended her voting record, noting that the deals were negotiated by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, whom she called “the most conservative House speaker I’ve ever had in my lifetime.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
