Mike Lee wins Utah GOP Senate primary

SOUTH JORDAN — Attorney Mike Lee defeated businessman Tim Bridgewater in the Utah GOP Senate primary.

"It looks like we're not going to pull it off," Bridgewater said shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

"We fought passionately," he said, adding he had called Lee and conceded the race.

Lee took the stage immediately after talking to Bridgewater, hugged his wife Sharon and their children, and raised his arms in the air.

"People told me it couldn't be done," Lee said. "They're not saying that anymore."

Lee revisited his pro-Constitution campaign platform in addressing the hundreds of supporters who packed the South Jordan meeting hall on election night.

"The answers to the political problems we face in this country are rooted in the Constitution," Lee said. "Truth resonates. … People get it, they feel it."

Bridgewater told the Deseret News he would campaign for Lee if asked. "We had a good conversation. I congratulated him. I endorsed him wholeheartedly," he said. "And I will help him go on to victory in November."

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Lee had 51.1 percent of the vote to Bridgewater's 48.9 percent.

Lee said he was not surprised at the slim margin separating himself and his opponent, despite some voter surveys that showed him with a near double-digit gap to close in the days leading to the election.

"The polls were all over the place," Lee said. "But in my mind, I came to expect a close race."

Utah GOP Chairman Dave Hansen rolled into Lee's party shortly after Bridgewater made his concession call. Hansen said in spite of a vote that split Republicans who participated in the primary, he thought party faithful would rally in support of Lee come November.

"Everybody is going to get behind Mike," Hansen said. "This isn't a rift in the party, this is a vote that reflects two candidates who had very similar policy outlooks."

Lee said he was looking forward to the time he would have to mount a campaign for the general election after having to scramble following the May Utah Republican convention.

"Our work is a long way from over," Lee said. "But, it's going to be nice to have four and a half months instead of just six weeks."