SALT LAKE CITY -- Pressed about his plans to vote for Donald Trump in the November election, Utah Governor Gary Herbert offered support for the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
"I really do believe in Mike Pence," Gov. Herbert said during his monthly news conference at KUED. "He brings some stability and vision and he certainly lines up well with Utah."
Gov. Herbert did not join with other Utah Republican leaders recently in offering an endorsement of Trump when Pence made a stop in Salt Lake City last week. When reporters quizzed him about why he declined to offer an endorsement, the governor responded: "You know how I'm going to vote. I don't need to talk about this anymore."
Governor Gary Herbert speaks to reporters at his monthly news conference. (Image via KUED)
"I'm focused on my own election here. I'm in my own campaign and what the people of Utah want me to concentrate on is not the presidential race," he added. "I'm not an advocate for anybody. I'm not an apologist for anybody."
Gov. Herbert maintained he would vote the GOP ticket, even as others within his own party have admitted to struggling with who they will vote for. Some Republicans have eyed independent candidate Evan McMullin, others are looking closely at Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Some Republicans have even declared that with Trump being so toxic, they'll vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Governor Gary Herbert speaks to reporters at his monthly news conference. (Image via KUED)
The governor noted it cuts both ways: many Democrats have problems with Hillary Clinton. Speaking to reporters, Herbert said he'd like to look at the nomination system -- after the election.
"After we get through Nov. 8, let's talk about a new process," he said. "The question people ask is, 'Why is the process not delivering us the best and the brightest as the nominees of the party?' That's the question we ought to have a long discussion on and maybe we ought to have that after Nov. 8."
The governor would not elaborate on what he would like to see, but in the past has suggested a regional presidential primary.
Other highlights from the governor's monthly news conference:
- The governor said he will make education the top priority in his budget proposal to the legislature, but insisted he was not proposing any tax increases. He said teachers should be thanked more, but acknowledged more money was needed to keep them from leaving the classroom.
- Gov. Herbert hinted that he may have his own proposal for protecting public lands in Utah -- and may suggest a plan for dealing with Bears Ears when he meets with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in Washington in a couple of weeks. The governor said he prefers a legislative fix, but with the Public Lands Initiative proposed by Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz not advancing, Herbert may be preparing his own plan. He would not elaborate, saying "I don't want to scoop myself."
- Gov. Herbert is backing Brigham Young University in the "Holy War" game this weekend. The governor noted his longstanding friendship with University of Utah football coach Kyle Wittingham, but his son-in-law is the wide-receiver coordinator for BYU (and he attended there). Family ties led him to support BYU, even though he acknowledged oddsmakers favored Utah.
