Former CIA analyst and presidential candidate Evan McMullin has not only outraise Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) in his bid to become Utah’s Senator has has done so with major impediments thrown against his campaign.
This year the Utah State Legislature moved the signature-gathering deadline for independent candidates to get on November’s ballot to March 4. While partisan candidates still could abide by the traditional April deadline.
This was likely seen as a move by the Utah GOP to stall Evan McMullin who is running as an independent. McMullin’s cross-partisan supporters were able, despite the tighter deadline able to collect the signatures required to be on the ballot.
Had he failed to collect the signatures he may have competed as a write-in candidate or challenged the Utah State Legislature’s move in court experts say.
McMullin campaign has positioned him as an anti-Trump conservative and increasingly moderate. Conversely they describe the incumbent Lee as a far-right figure.
McMullin outraised Lee by 58% last quarter a figure that does not bode well for the Republican stalwart.
As McMullin continues to pick-up endorsements his rise is just part of an increasingly moderate GOP figures from the far west such as Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) whose future in the GOP also seems unsure and like McMullin may need healthy support from Democrats in her state to win re-election.
