Jazz legend John Stockton endorses Trent Staggs for U.S. Senate in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah Jazz legend John Stockton endorsed Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

The famously reserved Corridor of Fame level guard not too long ago emerged from a quiet retirement to begin a podcast “Voices for Medical Freedom,” after he spoke out in opposition to public well being measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, at instances stirring up controversy.

Now, Stockton is backing Staggs within the race to switch Sen. Mitt Romney in Utah. Stockton mentioned Staggs resisted pandemic restrictions as mayor.

“In 2020, we noticed how harmful weak leaders might be. Amongst so many different issues, companies had been compelled to shut indefinitely, and kids had been compelled to put on masks,” Stockton mentioned in an announcement supplied by the Staggs marketing campaign.

“That is unacceptable, and only a few spoke up and mentioned ‘no.’ This is the reason I’m proud to endorse one who did. Trent Staggs stood as much as lockdowns and vaccine mandates when few had been prepared. We’d like extra like him within the Senate. We’d like extra like him in our nation, prepared to face alone and defend particular person liberty,” Stockton mentioned.

Throughout his Senate marketing campaign, Staggs has usually referred to his COVID-19 response as proof he’s prepared to tackle the “institution.”

In March 2020, Staggs instructed Riverton’s chief of police to not implement Salt Lake County’s restrict on public gatherings to 10 individuals or much less with a penalty of as much as “six months in jail or a $1,000 nice” for violators.

Just a few months later, as candidate for Salt Lake County mayor, Staggs dedicated to additionally not implement a masks mandate. He mentioned on the time he would encourage metropolis residents to put on a masks however known as a mandate “unenforceable” and mentioned the county lacked a plan to handle the financial impact of closures and had failed to offer COVID-19 exams to anybody who needed one.

Staggs misplaced his mayoral bid to incumbent Mayor Jenny Wilson. However he continued to oppose masks mandates all through 2021 and 2022 on the grounds that vaccines had been available. He additionally opposed vaccine mandates, together with within the office.

“I am grateful to have John’s help,” Staggs advised the Deseret Information in an announcement. “He is a legend on the courtroom and an excellent higher man off. I am honored to have him in my nook!”

Stockton, who endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a distinguished vaccine skeptic — for president, has been vocal about his views on the COVID-19 response, together with by starring in a documentary episode about pandemic-era lockdowns. Stockton not too long ago spoke to the Deseret Information about his anti-vaccine stance and the explanations behind his beliefs.

Since turning into the primary candidate to formally announce his intention to run in opposition to Romney in Could 2023, Staggs has labored to carve out a lane as essentially the most Donald Trump-aligned candidate, receiving the endorsement of Trump surrogates like former Republican presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake.

On April 27, simply hours earlier than the state GOP nominating conference, Staggs obtained the a lot looked for endorsement of former President Trump by the use of a Reality Social put up. Staggs went on to win the conference with practically 70% of the vote to develop into the official Republican conference nominee.

Staggs will seem on the GOP main poll alongside third District Rep. John Curtis, who got here in second on the conference with 30% of the vote, former state Home Speaker Brad Wilson and Moxie Pest Management CEO Jason Walton.

Curtis carries some fundraising momentum forward of the June 25 main, as Wilson and Walton have poured tens of millions into their respective campaigns and Staggs tries to capitalize on his endorsements to compete along with his opponents’ fundraising.

The GOP nominee who emerges from the first will face off in opposition to the nominees from different registered political events within the Nov. 5 basic election.

The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Utah is mountaineer Caroline Gleich.