Leo Romero and Yohanes Frezgi, both of Salt Lake City, vote at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — Republican write-in Steve Furshtut is no longer in the race for a seat in Utah’s House District 16 in Davis County. Furshtut was disqualified for not submitting the proper paperwork.
Write-in candidate Rep. Steve Handy, GOP-backed Trevor Lee and Libertarian Brent Zimmerman remain in the race.
Lee, who beat out Handy at the GOP convention for the party’s nomination, said Furshtut’s disqualification was unfortunate for him.
Lee said Furshtut’s place on the ballot would have helped his chances in the race because of the confusion two Steves on the ballot would have caused.
Meanwhile, Handy said he took several months to look at the possibility of winning as a write-in candidate. He said political experts assured him that there was a path to success.
And with just two weeks to the election, the race is heating up.
Lee has argued that Handy is backtracking on his record to appear more conservative.
Lee said Handy voted against HB 11, the Utah transgender athlete ban, in support of transgender girls. Handy did vote against the bill but later voted to override Gov. Spencer Cox’s veto.
Handy maintained that his initial vote was to protect the school districts and said he doesn’t support transgender girls competing in girls’ sports. He claimed Lee is distorting his record.