This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A crowded field of 10 candidates filed by Thursday's deadline to challenge Gov. Gary Herbert for the job he has held since 2009 and is seeking again.

Challengers include three Republicans, two Democrats, two Libertarians, two members of the Independent American Party and one unaffiliated candidate.

Filings on Thursday also showed that 12 legislators chose not to seek re-election, although four current House members are running for the Senate; a transgender Democrat is facing Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee to push LGBT issues; and an unusual situation in which State Rep. Brad Dee and his daytime-job boss, Weber County Commissioner Matt Bell, have decided to run for each other's seats.

—

Governor's race • Marty Carpenter, Herbert's campaign manager, said the governor is not surprised by the small army of opponents challenging him.

"The governor always anticipated that would be the case," he said. "The governor has said a number of times that's the way it's supposed to work. If someone wants to throw their hat in the ring, everyone gets their time to step out."

Herbert will campaign "as a pragmatic problem solver who does what's right for the people of Utah," said Carpenter.

A January poll by The Salt Lake Tribune and the Hinckley Institute of Politics found that Utahns approved of Herbert's job performance by a 2-1 margin.

Herbert is poised for a potentially expensive run. Disclosure forms show his campaign has more than $1.4 million in the bank.

Disclosure forms also show that Republican Jonathan Johnson, former CEO of Overstock.com, who already has been running and attacking Herbert for much of the past year, may have about a half-million dollars in his campaign coffers.

And multimillionaire Democrat Mike Weinholtz, chairman and former CEO of CHG Healthcare, recently put $1 million of his own money into his gubernatorial campaign, forms show. No Democrat has won the governorship since Scott Matheson was re-elected in 1980 — 36 years ago.

Other candidates who filed for governor include Republicans Nate Jensen (a software executive) and Carlos Tavares Jr. (former Coalville City Council candidate); Democrat Vaughn R. Cook (former chairman of the Utah County Democratic Party); and Libertarians Brian Kamerath and Ken Larsen.

Also filing were unaffiliated candidate L.S. Brown and Independent American Party candidates Gary R. Van Horn and "Super" Dell Schanze, who became a celebrity in local TV ads and later was involved in a scandal over kicking an owl while flying his paraglider.

—

Federal races • Democrat Doug Owens formally filed to seek a rematch against incumbent Rep. Mia Love. She beat Owens two years ago by a 51-46 percent tally. Constitution Party candidate Collin Simonsen, who won 1 percent of the 2014 vote, also filed.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee attracted a challenge from Republican William Gaskill, a BYU law librarian who says he's tired of senators "more interested in a scorched-earth politics" than passing policy.

Lee also has four Democratic opponents: Misty K. Snow (who is transgender and says she is running to push LGBT issues), Jonathan Swinton (a marriage counselor), Craig Oliver and Jade Tuan Quoc Vo. Also filing were Independent American candidate Stoney Fonua and unaffiliated candidate Bill Barron.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, attracted four opponents: Republican David Yu-Lin Chiu; Democrat Peter Clemens, a doctor; Libertarian Craig Bowden; and unaffiliated candidate Chad H. Fairbanks III.

Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, is challenged by Republican Jeremy M. Smith and Democrat Charlene Albarran, who lives outside the district but has rented an apartment within it. Also filing was Constitution Party candidate Paul J. McCollaum Jr.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, faces Republican Chia-Chi Teng and Democrat Stephen P. Tryon, who previously ran as an unaffiliated candidate.

—

Legislature • Filings confirm that four state senators are retiring: Al Jackson, R-Highland; Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City; Mark Madsen, R-Saratoga Springs; and Steve Urquhart, R-St. George.

Three out of eight House members who also are retiring are seeking some of those Senate seats.

Reps. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, and David Lifferth, R-Eagle Mountain, seek Madsen's seat. They face Republican Jimmy Eaton, Libertarian Joe Buchman and American Independent candidate Ryan Petelkian.

Rep. Don Ipson, R-St. George, is running for Urquhart's seat, and faces Republican Richard Jenkins and Democrat Dorothy Engelman.

Two former House members are seeking Jackson's seat: Holly Richardson and Morgan Philpot (who also ran for Congress in 2010). They also face Republican Daniel Himmert and Independent American candidate Curt Crosby.

Rep. Rich Cunningham, R-South Jordan, decided to challenge recently appointed Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan. They also face Republican Aleta Taylor and Democrat Dan Paget.

Four other House members decided to retire: Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville; Jack Draxler, R-North Logan; Kay McIff, R-Richfield; and Brad Dee, R-Ogden.

Dee is running for the Weber County Commission. Weber County Commissioner Matt Bell — who is technically a boss of Dee, who works for the county — is running for Dee's House seat. He will face Republican Kelly Miles and Democrat Amy Morgan.

In other races of interest, Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, faces Chris Herrod, a former legislator and past congressional candidate. They also face Republican Timothy Spender and Independent American candidate Jason Christensen.

A GOP rematch will be held in House District 42. Rep. Kim Coleman, R-West Jordan, will again face former Rep. Jim Bird, whom she unseated in the convention two years ago. They will face Democrat Craig Janis.

Former West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder is challenging Rep. Fred Cox, R-West Valley City, for the Republican nomination in House District 30. They also face Democrats Frank Bedolla and Emily Wilde, and Independent American candidate David Allred.

Rep. Brad King, R-Price, will face former Rep. Christine Watkins — who served as a Democrat, but later switched to become a Republican. They will also face Republican Will Hinkins.

—

Other statewide offices • Republican Attorney General Sean Reyes will face Democrat Jon V. Harper, Libertarian Andrew McCullough and American Independent Party candidate Michael W. Isbell.

Recently appointed Republican Treasurer David Damschen will face former GOP U.S. Rep. Merrill Cook, former Democratic legislator Neil Hansen and Constitution Party candidate Richard Proctor.

GOP state Auditor John Dougall faces Democrat Mike Mitchell and Independent American candidate Jared Green. —

Salt Lake County candidates at a glance:

Mayor • *Ben McAdams — D, Dave Robinson — R.

At-large Council seat • *Richard Snelgrove — R, Kim Bowman — D, Catherine Kanter — D.

Council District 2 • *Michael Jenson — R.

Council District 4 • *Sam Granato — D.

Council District 6 • *Max Burdick — R, Abigail Wright — D.

* Incumbent Millcreek City candidates at a glance:

Mayor • Phillip Archer, Craig Cook, Edward Frank, Fred Healey, Scott Howell, Becky Moss, Jeff Silvestrini, Verdi White and Jo-Ann Wong.

Council District 1 • Diane Angus, Silvia Catten, Lorrin Colby Jr., Gar Hendry and Thomas Richards.

District 2 • John Douglas, Dwight Marchant, Rivka Richman, Dwayne Vance and Jamie Walker.

District 3 • Chaskey Barry, Cheri Jackson, Jem Keller, John Lish, Bob Shupe, Jeffrey Waters, Don Willie, Adam Zimmerman.

District 4 • Seraya Amirthalingam, Lisa Bagley, Robert Beardshall, Barry Bowen, Vaughn Howard, LaMont Tyler, Bev Uipi and Kurt Zimmerman.