Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Becky Edwards is no stranger to political campaigns. Not only did the former state lawmaker serve for 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, she's spent much of the past several years on a pair of campaigns for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Although she was defeated in Republican primaries in each of the past two years, Edwards boasted strong fundraising numbers. During the recent race for Utah's 2nd Congressional District seat, she raked in more than half a million dollars.
Even more impressive for Edwards was that 60% of her donations came from women, at a time when only 30% of national political donations are given by women. In light of that "unprecedented" support, Edwards on Tuesday launched a new political action committee, the Governing Group, aimed at supporting female politicians and promoting civil discourse in politics.
"I think women saw in me the same values that they saw in their real life," Edwards told KSL.com in an interview Monday. "You don't just get to walk away and say, 'We can't solve this problem.' You stay at the table, you get the work done — and they resonated with that in the way that I approached politics."
Edwards launched the PAC with the ambitious goal of raising $50,000 in its first year to support candidates in the 2024 election cycle, before scaling up aspirations in subsequent election cycles. She announced the Governing Group received an initial donation of $14,000 from the Utah Conservative Values Project to help kick off fundraising.
The Governing Group will use its resources to support Republican and unaffiliated candidates with financial support, as well as mentoring newcomers to politics.
There are several barriers to entry when it comes to running for even local office, including financial, logistical and social concerns. Edwards said she recently spoke with a prospective legislative candidate who was concerned that the negativity of today's politics would adversely impact her family.
As a longtime lawmaker, Edwards said she's able to draw on that experience to help guide candidates along as they consider throwing their name in the hat.
"I've been there," she said.
The hostility in politics is why she wants to help identify candidates who are more focused on finding "pragmatic solutions ... solving problems rather than just pointing political barbs at each other." She acknowledged that her goals are lofty, but said she simply wants to "aim high."
"We have big goals. We're here to very literally change the face of politics here in the state," she said. "I'm incredibly confident and enthusiastic about our ability to do that."
Edwards acknowledged that her most recent campaigns didn't result in her winning elections, but said she thinks she can have a more impactful role mentoring future candidates. While she doesn't have her eye on another campaign, Edwards doesn't plan to take a back seat in politics in the state.
She noted that her father-in-law, legendary Brigham Young University football coach LaVell Edwards, had an unremarkable career as a player at Utah State University before ascending to his role at BYU.
"As a coach, he won hundreds of football games, impacted multiple players who ended up playing in the NFL, ended up going on to achieve great things in their chosen professions and with their families in their lives, and his impact was so much greater as a coach and a mentor," she said. "It became very clear: that's my role."
"That as a candidate, amazing experiences; as an elected person, the privilege of a lifetime to serve for 10 years in the Utah House," Edwards continued. "And this next chapter as a mentor and a coach and someone who can help other people get the skills and the resources they need to run and win their offices, I think it's unstoppable."
