Utah Senate President Ousted in GOP Primary Amid Data Center Fallout
TL;DR
After more than two decades in the Utah Legislature, Senate President J. Stuart Adams conceded the GOP primary to Stephanie Hollist, driven by backlash to his role approving a hyperscale data center in Box Elder County. Hollist led early results at about 43% to Adams’s 35%, with Braden Hess at 22%; Adams acknowledged defeat. Hollist framed the win as a call for change and accountability, while Adams highlighted his record. The race featured AI-generated ads and outsized spending, with Hollist around $181k, Adams about $429k, and Hess under $6k, as outside groups attacked Adams over the data center issues affecting power and water use.
- Senate President J. Stuart Adams — burdened by data center fallout — ousted by voters The Salt Lake Tribune
- Utah lawmakers Stuart Adams, Dan McCay and Trevor Lee all bounced in GOP primary The Salt Lake Tribune
- Utah Senate shakeup: Stuart Adams concedes District 7 primary, Stephanie Hollist takes the lead ABC4 Utah
- Senate President Stuart Adams concedes in GOP primary Axios
- Utah's State Senate president concedes in Republican Primary race FOX 13 News Utah
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