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Evan McMullin isn't afraid of a challenge. The 2016 presidential candidate entered the race as an independent, and though his prospects were a long shot, he still managed to win 21.5% of the votes in Utah, according to Ballotpedia.
Interestingly, one of those votes came from Utah Sen. Mike Lee, whom McMullin is challenging for a spot in the U.S. Senate.
As stated on his campaign website, McMullin isn't running as a Republican or a Democrat — "but as an independent dedicated to preserving and advancing our nation."
A strong moral compass and an impressive record
From a young age, McMullin has been drawn to public service. At just 15 years old, he knew he wanted to join the CIA. After graduating high school and serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil, the agency recruited him to its student trainee program. He alternated semesters at Brigham Young University with training at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., until graduation.
McMullin's record shows a strong moral compass and devotion to his country. After his time in the CIA, he earned an MBA from Wharton and worked in the private sector before being called back to service. From 2013 to 2016, he advised Republicans and Democrats in Congress on national security and other issues.
In 2017, he co-founded Stand Up Republic, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting Republicans and Democrats against political extremism to protect democracy. With his sights set on the U.S. Senate, McMullin hopes to continue his fight for principled politics both in Washington and here at home.
His vision for Utah
McMullin's goal is to put Utah first instead of playing the political game. It's an approach based largely on his admiration for and desire to emulate Sen. Mitt Romney, whom Burgess Everett of Politico called "McMullin's apparent role model."
McMullin believes that political extremes are to blame for the inability to overcome major challenges, such as droughts, forest fires, water shortages, the rising cost of healthcare and inflation. His plan is to introduce "12 Principles for Renewal," which include protecting American democracy, defending the Constitution, seeking and promoting truth and demanding ethical government, among others.
According to McMullin's campaign, he's ready "to break the political gridlock and bridge the partisan divide" as Utah's next U.S. Senator.
What the polls are saying
McMullin's deep Utah roots, moderate conservative bona fides and achievements will certainly attract many voters. But can he win the Senate seat? According to the latest polls, McMullin supporters have reason to stay hopeful.
The most recent Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found that the race is virtually a dead heat, according to a KSL.com article. Of the 815 registered Utah voters surveyed, 34% said they would choose McMullin if the race were held that day, with 36% opting for Lee. The difference is within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3.43%. The poll also found 96% of those surveyed say they are likely to vote and 83% say they will definitely vote, showing the high level of interest in the Utah race.
"Utah has not seen a Senate race this competitive in decades," Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, told the Deseret News at the time. "Both Lee and McMullin have a base of support locked in and will spend the next few months in a contentious fight to win over the few who remain undecided."
Most recently, an internal poll by the McMullin campaign found that McMullin was leading by one percentage point.
Ultimately, the results will come down to the voters on the Nov. 8 election day.
Learn more about what McMullin can do for Utah
McMullin's campaign has united voters on both sides of the aisle who are dissatisfied with the current state of politics and are eager for a change. Put Utah First is a bipartisan effort that's committed to electing McMullin as an Independent candidate.
To learn more, visit pututahfirst.org.
