GOP gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. has selected Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi as Lt. Governor for their 2020 campaign.
Meet the next Lieutenant Governor of the Great State of Utah. #HuntsmanKaufusi2020 pic.twitter.com/VsVGpFra20
— Jon Huntsman (@JonHuntsman) February 7, 2020
The former ambassador and Utah Governor made the announcement on his social media pages Friday morning.
"When I first met her, I knew she would make a great leader for this great state of ours," Huntsman said of Kaufusi. "She has already been a historic figure and great mayor of Provo."
Kaufusi has served as the 46th Mayor of Provo since 2017. Born and raised in Provo, Kaufusi attended Provo High School and Brigham Young University.
The Provo Mayor took to Twitter to announce that it was a tough decision to accept Huntsman's invitation.
It's after a lot of soul searching that I've decided to accept an invitation to run for Lieutenant Governor of Utah. I've shed many tears in reaching this difficult decision. Serving as your mayor has been my favorite job & I can't imagine I'll ever enjoy another position more. pic.twitter.com/hGgD8W0xXp
— Michelle Kaufusi (@mayorkaufusi) February 7, 2020
"It's after a lot of soul searching that I've decided to accept an invitation to run for Lieutenant Governor of Utah," Kaufusi wrote. "I've shed many tears in reaching this difficult decision. Serving as your mayor has been my favorite job & I can't imagine I'll ever enjoy another position more."
Kaufusi also clarified that this announcement is not her resignation for Mayor of Provo. She clarified that the future would be more clear after the primary elections held on June 30. She said she is focused on continuing her work for the city of Provo and if elected will work until she is in office as Lt. Gov.
Huntsman and Kaufusi are the second official tandem to join the crowded race for Governor, joining Thomas Wright and Rob Bishop.
