National Journal: Why Is Utah's Top GOP Strategist Trying to Take Down the Governor?

Dave Hansen, a former Republican Party chairman and adviser to Orrin Hatch and Mia Love, is working for Gov. Gary Herbert's likely challenger

Do I think that Utah's been doing well? Yes. Do I think it's been because of who was serving in the governor's office? I don't know necessarily that's true. I think that the legislature, I think the entrepreneurs and the business people in the community probably have a greater responsibility for the economic stability that we have here in this state. And I think that Jonathan can continue to make sure that Utah prospers, and I think with some new ideas and some fresh ideas will help.

Dave Hansen, Jonathan Johnson Campaign Manager
Why Is Utah's Top GOP Strategist Trying to Take Down the Governor?
March 22, 2015

[Herbert] is about as untouchable as it comes.I guess I'm sure Jonathan would tell you with a straight face that he's in it to win it, but right now I feel like it's completely out of his hands.

Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.
Why Is Utah's Top GOP Strategist Trying to Take Down the Governor?
March 22, 2015

Interesting story concerning the Utah Governor's race, as we gear up for the upcoming 2016 Utah General Election. It seems that our "conservative-lite" Utah Governor is already experiencing some apparent intra-GOP "teas-party-style" flack, a full 19 months before our November, 2016 vote tallies. Here's the lede, folks:

Utah's Gary Herbert is one of the most popular governors in the country. Republicans adore him in his heavily conservative state. Yet one wealthy Republican is planning to take him on—and Utah's most prominent GOP strategist, Dave Hansen, has joined the effort.
Hansen, a former state party chairman, has spent recent years promoting the Utah GOP establishment. He helped Sen. Orrin Hatch navigate his 2012 primary and managed Mia Love's successful House bid, one of national Republicans' top target races in the country, in 2014. Now, Hansen has signed on to manage the gubernatorial campaign of Overstock.com chairman Jonathan Johnson, who would have to unseat Herbert in the GOP primary.
Hansen said he has nothing against Herbert but a desire for change grounded in his belief that governors should not serve more than two terms, which Herbert hasn't technically done yet. Herbert became governor in 2009 when then-Gov. Jon Huntsman resigned to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Check out the full story, WCF political wonks:

• Why Is Utah's Top GOP Strategist Trying to Take Down the Governor?

"An aide who works for Johnson's PAC, Alex Iorg, said Johnson would start fielding interview requests come July or August 'when we get closer to the announcement.' But a well-staffed effort to take down Herbert is well underway, and it has one of Utah's most connected GOP players at the helm," according to Sunday's National Journal story.

This, folks will be an interesting race to watch, wethinks.

Comments, anyone?

Breaking: Lawmakers Snub Governor’s Healthy Utah plan, Recommend Modest Medicaid Expansion

"Merry Christmas," downtrodden Utahns... from the Utah legislature! 

After a frenzied year of scurrying around and meeting with Obama Administration officials, and securing the necessary concessions to activate his "watered down" "Healthy Utah" Medicaid expansion plan,  Crackpot Utah GOP Legislators just "kicked" Governor Gary Herbert "where it hurts" yesterday:

• Utah lawmakers recommend lowest-cost solution to Medicaid expansion, insuring only the 'most vulnerable'
• Lawmakers snub governor’s Healthy Utah plan, recommend modest Medicaid expansion

"Surprise! Surprise!," responds one savvy SL-Trib reader. "Just more of the mean-spirited mindset of 'We've got ours, to hell with everyone else.' Disgusting pieces of trash posing as humans."

"Merry Christmas," downtrodden Utahns... from the Utah legislature!

Salt Lake Tribune: Governor Herbert Lauds GOP For Suing Him - Updated

A callous disregard for the peoples' desire to improve the nominating process

By Blackrulon

I see via a story in the Salt Lake Tribune that Governor Herbert took the unusual step Saturday to "support the Utah Republican Party for suing him this week — as part of its effort to overturn the new law that changes how parties may select their nominees":

• Governor Herbert lauds GOP for suing him

If the Governor was concerned about the law he could have vetoed the bill or allowed it to become law without his approval. It appears that he jumped on the bandwagon to approve the bill but now has received pressure to disapprove it.

Even for Utah this is a callous disregard for the peoples' desire to improve the nominating process. It seems he still fears a challenge from Becky Lockhart for governor. He is simply jumping to the far right Tea Party Wing to secure his renomination and reelection. Governor

Herbert was for SB54 before he was against it.

Update 12/10/14 10:22 a.m.: Uh-oh.  Looks like Governor Herbert has flip-flopped again:

• Gov clarifies, says Count My Vote reforms are constitutional

Most excellent rimshot from Trib reader Skier Jim: "Who does Herbie think he is? Mitt Romney?"

Open Letter to Utah Governor Gary Herbert

Be a hero, and not a zero, for once in your pathetic political life

"Okay.  When Governor Herbert is being cast as the liberal in a policy debate, you have to know that the other side is seriously off the deep end":

• Herbert calls House Medicaid plan ‘illogical’

The uber-conservative Deseret News has a few supportive words on this topic, too:

• In our opinion: Expanding Medicaid (Is a No-Brainer)

So get with it Governor Herbert. Collect that "$524 million in federal money the state will draw on to provide Medicaid coverage to 111,000 low-income Utahns."

Be a hero, and not a zero, for once in your pathetic political life.

Just a helpful tip from yer ole pal Rudi.