The Latest: Curtis wins GOP primary for US House seat

Curtis was endorsed by Utah's Republican governor but faced criticism and suspicion from other party members for having once been a Democratic candidate and party officer.

In the November special election to fill the seat, he faces Democratic physician Kathie Allen and third-party candidate Jim Bennett, son of the late GOP Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah.

Curtis was leading by a comfortable margin over former state lawmaker Chris Herrod and political newcomer Tanner Ainge in the first batch of election results after the polls closed at 8 p.m.

Utah elections officials said turnout was light Tuesday in Utah's 3rd District, but that was expected because five of its seven counties offered mail-in voting.

Five of the seven counties offer mail-in voting in Utah's 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from the Salt Lake City suburbs and several ski towns southeast to Provo and Utah coal country.

Election officials have worked to fix the problem by telling unaffiliated voters that they can vote in the primary if they come to the polls and register as Republicans on Election Day.

Linda Spencer of Orem is voting for Chris Herrod to fill the congressional seat vacated by Jason Chaffetz because she likes his voting record while he was in the state legislature from 2007-2012.

The winner of Tuesday's GOP primary is expected to cruise to victory in November's special election in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats five-to-one.

Utah pharmaceutical representative David Nelson came away impressed with political newcomer Tanner Ainge after watching him closely on the campaign trail in the race to fill the congressional seat vacated by Republican Jason Chaffetz.

The winner of Tuesday's GOP primary is expected to cruise to victory in November's special election in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats five-to-one.

Utah voter David Muir says he cast his ballot for popular Provo Mayor John Curtis in the Republican primary to replace U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz because Curtis has experience making important decisions that matter in people's everyday lives.

Muir, the city treasurer for the Salt Lake City suburb of Cottonwood Heights, says he's not worried about Curtis' Democratic past that led his critics and opponents to question his conservative credentials.

The winner of Tuesday's GOP primary is expected to cruise to victory in November's special election in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats five-to-one.

Utah election officials say about 22 percent of registered Republican voters have cast early ballots in the three-candidate GOP primary race to replace U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

Election officials have worked to fix the problem by telling unaffiliated voters that they can vote in the primary if they come to the polls and register as Republicans on Election Day.

Curtis is generally favored by more moderate Utah Republicans, while Herrod is known for strict immigration positions and Ainge has touted his business experience.