CEDAR CITY — While the race is not yet over, Tuesday night’s Primary Election served to nominate John Westwood as Republican candidate for Utah’s House of Representatives District 72. Westwood, the incumbent, will proceed against Libertarian candidate Barry Evan Short in the General Election in November.
Westwood received 2,036 votes to his Republican opponent Blake Cozzens’ 800 votes, securing a solid majority nomination representing 71.79 percent in the Primary.
The results of this election are humbling, Westwood said. He is pleased with the amount of support shown from the area and will be looking forward to new faces coming into the House as well as seeing some old faces return.
“I’m still in my first term and gaining a lot of experience,” he said. “With this great support behind me, I’m looking forward to getting signed onto committees and helping more with legislature.”
Cozzens, 24, aimed to bring more conservative voting than Westwood has to the House on behalf of District 72, he has previously said during his campaign, but will resume his position as chair of the Iron County Republican Party and support Westwood, he said Tuesday, as the race moves forward to General Election.
The campaign has been a challenge, Cozzens said, and a great opportunity to spread the conservative viewpoint and constitutional principles. Whether or not he would run again, Cozzens was not sure, but said: “I think now that the Republican Party has decided on their nominee, it’s time for us to unite as a party and make sure Republicans win in November.”
“This is an exciting time here in southwest Utah,” Westwood said.
There are issues facing Utahns that Westwood said he is not looking forward to, such as the definition of marriage — something that will take up a lot of time and distract from other areas of needed attention. Nonetheless, Westwood is excited and also hopes to see the party rally together for the General Election as he contends against a Libertarian.
Related posts
- Westwood, Cozzens face off in primary for House District 72
- Brock Belnap wins re-election in hard fought race
- Washington County re-elects Belnap, Vickers; Primary Election results
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