Utah's Republican Gov. Gary Herbert easily fought off a primary challenge for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.
Herbert defeated Overstock.com executive Jonathan Johnson to win a closely watched primary race that helped boost voter turnout to the highest in two decades.
Herbert had about 73 percent of the vote with about half of all votes counted in Tuesday's primary election.
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Herbert told reporters he was grateful and believed voters felt he had a positive record that he could build upon for the future.
The victory sends Herbert on to face Democrat Mike Weinholz in the November general election. Herbert will be a heavy favorite since deep-red Utah hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 1980.