Scott Burns, formerIron County attorney, former deputy director for State and Local Affairs at theONDCP and nominee for attorney general in 1992 and 1996
Michelle Mumford, an attorney, assistant dean of admissions at theBrigham Young Universitylaw school and secretary of the Utah Republican Party
Bret Rawson, a reserveBountiful policeman and attorney
Sean Reyes, an attorney who lost to Swallow in the primary in 2012
Stephen Sorenson, a retired prosecutor and former head of the litigation division of the Attorney General's office
Burns, Sorensen, Tarbet and Wilkins all said they would not run in the special election if chosen.[4]
Sorenson withdrew from contention on December 9, 2013, with Ward also withdrawing two days later.[5] A debate was held on December 11[6] and Reyes, Smith and Tarbet were chosen as the finalists by the Central Committee on December 14.[7] Herbert chose Reyes on December 23,[8] who was sworn in on December 30, 2013.[9]
A special election was thus be held for the remaining two years of Swallow's term, with the office then up for the regularly scheduled election in 2016. Reyes was unopposed in the Republican primary. Opposing him in the general election were Democratic rancher and attorney Charles A. Stormont,[10][11] American Independent Party nominee Leslie Curtis, Constitution Party nominee Gregory Hansen and Libertarian nominee Andrew McCullough, a perennial candidate for office.[12]
