Senator Brady Brammer and Senator Dan McCay both received $55,000 from the fund this election cycle. Senator Stuart Adams and Senator Scott Sandall each received $15,000. Sandall was able to defeat his primary opponent at convention; Adams, Brammer, and McCay all still face primary challengers on Tuesday.
Where did the money come from?
I had Claude work through five years of financial disclosures, and the patterns are pretty clear. The money largely came from special interests: roughly $72,000 from EnergySolutions alone, and an estimated $66,600 from the alcohol and tobacco industry (Reynolds American, Altria, and Anheuser-Busch combined).
This fund is controlled by the Senate President — currently Senator Adams — to distribute as he sees fit. It’s worth asking how much influence that gives him over his colleagues, and how much influence the donors have in return. It’s also worth noting that legislators can move money from their own campaign funds into an ally’s account, adding another layer to follow.
One of the more interesting details: the kratom industry made several large donations to the URSCC over the past three years, yet kratom was banned in Utah earlier this year. I asked Senator Mike McKell, who ran the bill, about it.
“Ultimately, I think it shows that good policy always trumps donations. I think there’s a big misconception on the impact of donations. I think it’s clear it didn’t make a difference on this issue. The legislature got it right.”
— Sen. Mike McKell
Why do these special interests keep writing these checks? How will AI change political money games? Will this information change any votes?
If you haven’t voted yet, Tuesday June 23 is primary day. It is too late to return your ballot by mail. You can use a drop box or vote in person on Tuesday.
Read the full analysis by claude here.
Disclosure
The author has signs in his yard from Kelly Smith, Michelle Kafusi, and Corey Astill
