SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox went head to head with Democratic law professor Chris Peterson in Utah’s gubernatorial debate Tuesday. The two candidates are competing to succeed Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who isn’t running again after more than a decade in office. Cox is heavily favored to win in conservative Utah, where voters haven’t elected a Democratic governor in 40 years. Cox and Peterson sharply disagreed on whether to implement a statewide face covering mandate to slow the pandemic. Peterson has repeatedly called for a mandate since July. Cox has stood behind the governor’s decision to allow city and county officials to decide if they need bans.