In Utah, GOP's Mike Lee holds commanding lead over Evan McMullin

Despite support from the state's Democratic Party, independent candidate Evan McMullin trails Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee by 10 points in the latest Emerson College survey.

Lee led with 49% support among likely voters compared with McMullin's 39%. The margin of error was +/- 3.3% meaning Lee enjoys a secure advantage in the contest as he seeks a third term.

A former presidential candidate, McMullin ran a longshot campaign in 2016 that briefly attracted Never Trump media attention as a potential spoiler candidate. He failed to win any state. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly derided him as "McMuffin" in reference to the trademark McDonald's sandwich.

Earning support from the state's Democratic Party, McMullin has attempted to present himself as a bipartisan candidate and attract crossover support from Republicans in the deep-red state, an effort that has partially succeeded with 23% of Utah Republicans backing him, per the survey.

Earlier this month, McMullin spent much of a senatorial debate against Lee berating the Republican over the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The independent candidate attempted to tie the Republican to a scheme to submit an alternate slate of electors to the Senate when certifying the 2020 presidential election results, which Lee denied.

"That was the most egregious betrayal of our nation's Constitution in its history by a U.S. senator, I believe, and it will be your legacy," McMullin said.