Will an independent conservative challenger in Utah unseat a GOP senator?

Independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin talks to Margaret Hoover about his race against Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, which could potentially determine which party controls the chamber.

Although he is a lifelong conservative and he has vowed not to caucus with either party if he wins, McMullin’s bid to unseat Lee has the backing of Utah’s Democratic Party. He explains how he built a cross-partisan coalition that has made this Senate race the state’s most competitive one in decades.

McMullin, who ran for president as an independent in 2016 with Sen. Lee’s support, discusses Lee’s evolution into a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump. He also lays out his argument that Lee betrayed the Constitution by trying to overturn the 2020 election—even if Senator Lee ultimately voted to certify the results on January 6th.

McMullin addresses Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s decision not to endorse either candidate in the race, former Vice President Mike Pence’s support for Lee, and whether America needs a new political party to compete with Democrats and the GOP.

Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.