Update:The race is officially called for Herbert. The final results fluctuated only slightly from our first call. Herbert ended up with 73.9 percent and Weinholtz got 22.1 percent.
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Gary Herbert is the Governor for Utah. Real Clear Politics declared the state safely Republican, with the lowest poll showing Herbert up by 20.
Utah is expected to be a GOP stronghold in the Presidential race as well, as long as Trump can hold out against the independent candidate, Evan McMullin.
Check out more election results here.
Governor races are not isolated state-by-state issues. They are important for the performance of the parties in other races. The Governor either stands or gives up in protecting states’ rights against federal overreach. NPR’s Jessica Taylor points out that, “some of the biggest policy battles in the country this year have originated on a state, not a federal, level. From environmental concerns to religious freedom laws to school choice to social issues and more, governors will be on those frontlines.”