Who are the write-in candidates running for governor of Utah? -Deseret News

Two write-in candidates for Utah governor with the last name “Lyman” withdrew their candidacies Thursday, leaving state Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, as the only write-in candidate from “Lyman” when voters fill out their mail-ins Ballot before election day.

The Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office confirmed to the Deseret News that Richard and Carol Lyman, a son and a mother, withdrew from the gubernatorial race around 5 p.m. on Thursday after originally filing a declaration of candidacy on September 3.

Her withdrawal follows a lawsuit filed Oct. 16 that names Phillip Lyman and his vice president, attorney Natalie Clawson, as plaintiffs and Richard Lyman as a defendant.

The petition alleged that Richard and Carol's candidacy was illegitimate and constituted election interference. Phil Lyman's attorneys argued that Richard and Carol had not promoted their campaign for governor in any way and that multiple candidates with the last name “Lyman” would result in the votes being thrown out because they could not be assigned to a write-in candidate other.

In a statement to the Deseret News through their attorney, Richard and Carol Lyman said they were disappointed by the withdrawal.

“It is with deep sadness that we withdraw our names from the ballot as candidates for governor and lieutenant governor of the great state of Utah. Even before we filed our candidacy, there was already a plan to force us out of the race,” the statement said. “This plan culminated in a frivolous lawsuit that we simply cannot afford to fight. The allegations in this lawsuit are false and we want to make it abundantly clear that we have done nothing wrong or broken any laws. We have every right to run for governor and lieutenant governor and should not have been driven out by people with deeper pockets.”

The write-in candidates said they were unable to campaign because Carol broke her leg, but that “Richard had political ambitions since he was a child. He wanted to bring attention to issues such as homelessness, addiction and mental health.”

What was in Phil Lyman's lawsuit?

The petition resurfaced claims from early September by Phil Lyman that he had received messages from an apparent acquaintance of Richard Lyman claiming that Richard had entered the race after receiving $1,000 from the Utah Republican governor's campaign. Dollars were promised and a “steak dinner” was offered. Spencer Cox is registering as a write-in candidate.

Richard and Carol Lyman denied the claim at the time, saying they were running “to make a statement.” Cox's campaign spokesman previously called Phil Lyman's claims “patently false.”

Phil Lyman's lawsuit alleged that Richard and Carol's decision caused damages of up to $1.7 million – the same amount the Lyman campaign spent during the election cycle. Phil Lyman's attorney requested that Richard and Carol be disqualified from the race “as if they had never registered to run.”

In an order proposed by Phil Lyman's attorney shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, Richard and Carol would have to file a resignation letter with the lieutenant governor's office before 5 p.m. The proposed order stated that any write-in vote for “Lyman” for Utah governor should be treated the same as Phil Lyman. The lawsuit appears to be still pending.

The Lyman Campaign responds to the withdrawal of Richard and Carol Lyman

Clawson told the Deseret News on Friday that the Lyman campaign respects Richard and Carol's decision to withdraw and hopes Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson will direct county clerks to count all “Lyman” write-ins for Phil Lyman.

“The motivation for their original filing remains unclear and we look forward to getting to the bottom of this story,” Clawson said. “Nevertheless, we believe this is a positive development that will help simplify the counting of registered votes on November 5th. … We continue to encourage voters to write “Phil Lyman” on the write-in line.”

The lieutenant governor's office confirmed to the Deseret News on Friday that county clerks will count all “Lyman” entries for Phil Lyman as long as they can determine voter intent.

Phil Lyman launched a campaign for governor in August after losing to Cox in the Republican primary in June by more than 37,500 votes.

Lyman has refused to accept the results of the primary until he verifies the results himself. Lyman has filed multiple lawsuits arguing that his victory at the Republican Party convention in Utah in April should guarantee him a spot in the general election. Lyman has also challenged Cox's primary qualifications by collecting signatures.

The general election between Cox and Democratic state candidate Brian King is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Utah voters should have already received their mail-in ballots. In addition to Lyman, other enrolled candidates include Charlie Tautuaa and Sylvia Miera Fisk.