Utah Sen. Mike Lee to take on GOP challengers at debate

Utah Sen. Mike Lee to take on GOP challengers at debate

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mike Lee is scheduled to debate two Republican challengers aiming to unseat him in Utah’s Republican primary election later this month. The two-term Republican is expected to face off against former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political staffer Ally Isom at a Wednesday evening debate hosted by the state Republican Party. Though he’s an incumbent in a reliably Repubican state, Lee is facing newfound challenges this year from both inside and outside the Republican Party. His opponents argue his penchant for lightning rod remarks and devotion to former President Donald Trump are out of step with Utah’s political culture, which has historically been conservative yet unfailingly polite.