Love locks in GOP nod as 4th District candidate

SANDY, Utah (AP) - Mia Love has handily secured the Republican nomination in her repeat bid to replace Democrat Jim Matheson in Congress.

Love, the former mayor of Saratoga Springs, faced a challenge from businessman Bob Fuehr at the Republican Party’s nominating convention on Saturday.

Love, who has unmatched campaign cash and name recognition, won more than 78 percent of delegate votes while Fuehr received about 22 percent.

Love will face Democrat Doug Owens in November’s general election.

Owens, a Salt Lake City attorney, earned 98 percent of Democrat votes at that party’s convention Saturday.

If Love wins in November, she would become the first black, female Republican elected to Congress in U.S. history.

The Republican-leaning 4th District covers a string of Salt Lake City suburbs stretching south along the Wasatch Front to Sanpete County.