Put Utah First PAC
Put Utah First PAC was a left-of-center super PAC that operated in Utah’s 2022 U.S. Senate race, backing independent candidate Evan McMullin and opposing Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). The Center for Responsive Politics’ OpenSecrets classifies the group’s “viewpoint” as liberal; its independent expenditures were overwhelmingly opposed to Lee, spending over $4.5 million against him, while some spending supported McMullin. 1
Background and History
Put Utah First PAC was organized shortly after Evan McMullin, a former independent candidate for president opposed to Donald Trump, announced his intention to challenge U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) in October 2021, The PAC was the lead outside funding group for McMullin’s challenge to Lee and raised funds from notable left-of-center and Democratic donors, as well as some moderate Republicans. The committee listed SkyMall founder and former Arizona State Senator Bob Worsley (R-Mesa) as treasurer. 2
McMullin was Sen. Lee’s main opposition in the 2022 election as the Democratic Party opted not to field a candidate in the general election. Sen. Lee defeated McMullin in the November 2022 election by a 53.2 percent-42.7 percent margin. 3
In 2022, Put Utah First PAC reported $5,369,711 in independent expenditures, with $4,586,046 spent opposing Sen. Lee and $783,665 spent supporting McMullin. Its activity included television, digital, and mail advertising in the general election. 3
Put Utah First PAC’s advertising framed Sen. Lee as aligned with then-former President Donald Trump and criticized selected votes, while portraying McMullin as independent of both parties. Coverage at the time noted that the PAC and McMullin’s campaign each committed roughly $2 million to messaging highlighting McMullin’s pledge not to caucus with either party and contrasting him with Lee. 4
Financials
Put Utah First PAC raised $6.09 million in the 2021–2022 cycle, primarily from individual donors. Major contributions included $3 million from Divvy co-founder Blake Murray. Other donors included Annette, John, and David Cumming of the Cumming family, Utah Democratic megadonors related to the late Ian Cumming, owner of the Park City and Snowbird resorts; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman; and Walmart heir Samuel Robson Walton. Reporting also identified contributions from technology and business executives with a history of giving mainly to Democrats. 5 2
Other notable donors to the Put Utah First PAC included Utah-based and national business figures, many of whom have given heavily to Democratic candidates, including 1-800 Contacts founder Jonathan Coon, KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky, Dollar Shave Club founder Michael Dubin, David Wright, Kem Gardner, and Michael Hutchings. Rachel Pritzker, heiress to the Hyatt Hotel chain fortune as a member of the Pritzker family of billionaires which includes Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), donated $25,000 to the PAC. 2
Put Utah First PAC listed Robert Merrill “Bob” Worsley as treasurer. Worsley is a former Arizona state senator and founder of SkyMall. In the legislature, he was a Republican known for crossing party lines on immigration and Medicaid expansion, and has since backed efforts opposing Republicans aligned with President Donald Trump. 2
Put Utah First PAC’s activity allowed outside spending in the 2022 Utah Senate race to remain relatively even. Club for Growth Action spent $5.4 million in the race supporting Sen. Lee, while Put Utah First spent a total of $6 million in the race. 2