Utah to hold special House election convention this weekend in which China connections cast a shadow

A special election convention is scheduled for this weekend in Utah in advance of the special election in November to replace current Rep. Chris Stewart, as he recently announced he is stepping down from his position due to his wife's health issues. 

The special election convention will take place June 24 and all Utah state delegates in the second district will be expected to attend. 

Stewart announced on May 31 that he plans to resign from office on September 15. The special election is scheduled for November 21 with the primary being held on September 5. There are already more than a dozen Republican candidates who have announced their candidacy.

Among the candidates in the race are former House Speaker Greg Hughes; Celeste Maloy, a Stewart staffer; Jordan Hess, a former staffer for Senator Mike Lee; and state lawmaker Becky Edwards.

Earlier this year, the Associated Press wrote an investigative piece, exploring Chinese-government-influence campaigns in Utah.

Legislators responded to the Chinese campaign by delaying legislation Beijing opposed and opposing resolutions that reflected poorly on China’s actions and image, according to the outlet.

According to Frank Montoya Jr., a retired FBI counterintelligence agent who lives in Utah, China’s successes in Utah show “how pervasive and persistent China has been in trying to influence America,” adding that “Utah is an important foothold.” He said “If the Chinese can succeed in Salt Lake City, they can also make it in New York and elsewhere.”

Former state House Speaker Greg Hughes, for example, seemingly had a positive relationship with the Chinese Communist Party and spoke at a conference alongside CCP officials in 2019.

During the conference with CCP officials, Hughes reportedly blamed the U.S. military and intelligence agencies for scrutinizing China, according to National Review. 

Hughes was one of several Utah lawmakers who went to China multiple times. 

Hughes, described as pro-Trump, opposed Trump’s policies toward China regarding tariffs. During a 2018 interview with the CCP’s "Global Times" outlet, Hughes reportedly said, “Utah is not like Washington, D.C. Utah is a friend of China, an old friend with a long history.”

For the AP investigative story, Hughes seemed to change his tune on China, saying that he came to believe that his trips to China were actually a pretext for Chinese officials to influence him: “It’s a trip not worth taking,” he said.

According to a recent Utah poll, Hughes is in third place of potential candidates to replace Stewart, with Candidate Jordan Hess in first place and Becky Edwards in second place.