EXCLUSIVE — Former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson is out with a new ad touting his former experience as a residential homebuilder in the Beehive State that he says is central to his conservative record as he runs for Senate.
In the 30-second ad first viewed by the Washington Examiner, Wilson pointed to his 20-year career as president and CEO of Destination Homes, which he says allowed “families and values” in Utah “to thrive.” The ad then criticizes President Joe Biden’s economic policies, vowing to “demolish” the president’s agenda “brick by brick.”
“Joe Biden and the radical Left are destroying our country’s foundation, and now, more than ever, we need a proven, conservative fighter to reverse course,” Wilson said in a statement. “After 20 years in construction building communities all across our state, I can tell you that the blueprint for rebuilding America starts with electing a fearless conservative who will fight every day to bring our conservative Utah values to Washington.”
The video is the latest ad for Wilson as he vies to replace Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) after he retires later this year. Wilson faces a crowded field of Republican candidates in the GOP primary seeking to take the first-term incumbent’s place.
The seat is not expected to be competitive for Democrats, as Utah is considered a reliably red state. The last time a Democrat was elected to represent the Beehive State in the Senate was 1970.
Therefore, whoever wins the Republican nomination is likely to win the general election to replace Romney, who was first sworn into the seat in 2018. Romney, 76, announced last year he would not seek reelection, citing his age as a primary reason.
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News of his retirement sparked immediate announcements from some candidates, such as Wilson and Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who both emerged as early contenders in the race. Because of their swift announcements, the two candidates received a headstart on high-profile endorsements and fundraising.
Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) announced his candidacy last month after initially saying he would not run for the Senate, making him one of the most prominent names in the field. Another big name in the race is Brent Hatch, the son of former Sen. Orrin Hatch, who served in the Senate for 42 years before retiring in 2019.
