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Provo primary results: Early returns show Kaufusi maintains lead in mayoral race

Incumbent Michelle Kaufusi faced three challengers in the race for Provo mayor.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Voters at the Utah County polling station in Provo in 2024. Provo held a primary Tuesday to decide which mayoral and council candidates will appear on the ballot in November.

Provo residents have cast their votes for which mayoral and City Council candidates they’d like to see on the ballot in November’s general election.

Here’s what early, unofficial returns from the Utah County Clerk’s office are showing as of 10:16 p.m.

Mayor

Four candidates competed in Provo’s mayoral race. Seven-year incumbent Michelle Kaufusi faced off against former state Rep. Marsha Judkins, entrepreneur Eric Mutch and community advocate Thatcher A. Longman.

As of 10:16 p.m., Kaufusi has captured 49.6% of the vote, followed by Judkins with 44.1%. Longman and Mutch trail with 3.3% and about 3% of votes counted so far, respectively.

Citywide council member

Incumbent Katrice MacKay looked to fend off two challengers in the primary for a Provo City Council citywide seat: former Provo Planning Commission member Adam Shin and Tom Fifita Sitake Sr., a former administrator at Utah State Hospital and father of Brigham Young University football coach Kalani Sitake.

MacKay has captured the lead as of 10:16 p.m. with 56.4% of the votes counted so far. Shin and Sitake follow with 30% and 13.6%, respectively.

City Council District 2

Finance professional Sally Clayton, former Provo Planning Commission member Jeff Whitlock and small business owner Hannah Petersen faced off in the primary for Provo’s District 2 City Council seat.

Whitlock, as of late Tuesday, is leading in the race with about 47.5% of the votes counted. Petersen follows with 43.6% of the vote, trailed by Clayton, who has garnered 8.9% of the votes counted so far.

City Council District 5

Four candidates ran to represent Provo’s City Council District 5. Incumbent Rachel Whipple was challenged by BYU economics student and self-proclaimed YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) Sam Blackburn, Provo High School soccer coach Shay Aslett and BYU Office of Belonging project manager Tim Jafek.

So far, as of 10:16 p.m., Whipple is leading with 66.4% of the votes counted. Blackburn follows with 17.2% of the vote, trailed by Aslett and Jafek, who have garnered 10.6% and 5.9% of the vote, respectively.