J. Robert Latham
J. Robert Latham (Libertarian Party) is running for election for Governor of Utah. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source] The Libertarian Party primary for this office on June 25, 2024, was canceled.
Latham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Latham was a Libertarian Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Utah in the 2012 elections, running on a ticket with Ken Larsen.[1]
Biography
J. Robert Latham was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 1991 and a J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 1994. His career experience includes working as a advocate.[2]
Elections
2024
See also: Utah gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024
General election
General election for Governor of Utah
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Utah on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Spencer Cox (R) | |
 | Brian King (D) | |
 | Tommy Williams (Independent American Party) | |
 | J. Robert Latham (L)  | |
| Tom Tomeny (Unaffiliated) | |
| Charlie Tautuaa (Independent) (Write-in) | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Utah
Incumbent Spencer Cox defeated Phil Lyman in the Republican primary for Governor of Utah on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Spencer Cox | 59.5 | 149,361 |
 | Phil Lyman | 40.5 | 101,761 | |
| Total votes: 251,122 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Scott Robbins (R)
- Sylvia Miera Fisk (R)
Independent American Party primary election
The Independent American Party primary election was canceled. Tommy Williams advanced from the Independent American Party primary for Governor of Utah.
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. J. Robert Latham advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Utah.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Governor of Utah
Brian King advanced from the Democratic convention for Governor of Utah on April 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brian King (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican convention
Republican Convention for Governor of Utah
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Phil Lyman in round 2 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Total votes: 3,759 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Independent American Party convention
Independent American Party convention for Governor of Utah
Tommy Williams advanced from the Independent American Party convention for Governor of Utah on April 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Tommy Williams (Independent American Party) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Utah
J. Robert Latham advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Utah on April 20, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | J. Robert Latham (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2020
See also: Utah's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Kael Weston and J. Robert Latham in the general election for U.S. House Utah District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Stewart (R) | 59.0 | 208,997 |
 | Kael Weston (D) | 36.6 | 129,762 | |
| J. Robert Latham (L) | 4.4 | 15,465 | |
| Total votes: 354,224 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Jarvis (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ashley Jolin (D)
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Kael Weston defeated Randy Hopkins and Larry Livingston in the Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
 | Randy Hopkins (D) | |
| Larry Livingston (D) | |
| ✔ | | Kael Weston (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Mary Burkett, Ty Jensen, and Carson Jorgensen in the Republican convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Stewart (R) |
 | Mary Burkett (R) | |
 | Ty Jensen (R) | |
 | Carson Jorgensen (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2012
Latham was the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Utah, running on a ticket with Ken Larsen.[1] In the general election on November 6, the pair faced Republican incumbents Gary Herbert & Greg Bell, Democrats Peter Cooke & Vince Rampton and Constitution Party candidate Kirk Pearson & Tim Alders.[3]
| Governor of Utah General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Peter Cooke and Vince Rampton | 27.7% | 253,514 | |
| Republican |  Gary Herbert and Greg Bell Incumbent |
68.4% | 624,678 | |
| Libertarian | Ken Larsen and Rob Latham | 2.2% | 19,956 | |
| Constitution | Kirk Pearson and Tim Alders | 1.7% | 15,548 | |
| Total Votes | 913,696 | |||
| Election results via State of Utah | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
J. Robert Latham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Latham's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Please see https://www.lathamforutahns.us/about
- End the "benevolent terror" of the state of Utah's family policing system
- Pass a "Family Miranda" law
- Repeal Utah's "mandatory reporter" law
- Audit the state of Utah's use of federal funds to promote adoptions and child-trafficking
- Dismantle the Division of Child and Family Separation
Practice preemptive, political self-defense by:
- Jury nullification
- Non-aggressive action
- Voting Libertarian
- Promote decentralization by:
- "Underthrowing" the government through subversive innovation and entrepreneurship
- Growing intentional communities and mutual aid societies
- Increasing the use of proportional ranked choice voting and democratic lotteries
-Liberating our communities to optimize our potential for human flourishing
-Promoting individual and family autonomy and integrity
-Implementing electoral reforms such as proportional ranked choice voting to disrupt legacy concentrations of power and privilege
The Buddha inspires me and serves as an example to follow.
"The Monopoly on Violence," directed by Chris Cofer, is both instructive and offers viewers paths to further inquiry.
(The film should not be confused with David Dufresne's "The Monopoly of Violence," but the trailer looks interesting.)
"Corruptible," by Brian Klaas is a book/audiobook that offers penetrating insights into the sources of political dysfunction, and proposes liberty-advancing solutions, such as democratic lotteries.
The televised adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale" should be studied to see what Utah should not become.
"The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure," by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt was a recent listen that resonated with me. Highly recommended.
"Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand is a classic, libertarian text.
And "V for Vendetta" also deserves a re-watch, or a watch if you have yet to see it.
Non-aggression is the most important principle for an elected official to uphold.
Compassion, working knowledge of the law, and insight into the nature of political systems from public choice scholars and others are qualities I possess that would help me succeed as a Libertarian officeholder.
The core responsibilities for the governor of the state of Utah are set forth in Article VII of the Utah Constitution and Title 67, Chapter 1 of the Utah Code.
A community that creates more space and support for greater human flourishing is a legacy I would love to leave.
I remember learning about John Singer being shot dead outside of his home in Marion, Utah in Summit County. I was nine years old.
States -- monopoly governments -- and the individuals and ideologies that enable them are things that cause all of us to struggle unnecessarily in life.
If elected, I may beat former governor of California Milton S. Latham's record for shortest effective gubernatorial term (two days) for a Latham depending on how quickly the Utah House of Representatives can fabricate some contrivances constituting articles of impeachment pursuant to Article VI, Section 20 of the Utah Constitution.
Until that time, Utahns will be free to enjoy freedom from institutionalized tyranny perpetrated by agents of the state of Utah.
Pursuant to Article VII, Section 12 of the Utah Constitution, "The Governor may grant respites or reprieves in all cases of convictions for offenses against
the state...."
A governor of the state of Utah could continue to grant respites or reprieves in cases in which the death penalty was imposed, thereby saving a life and sparing state agents from the burden of taking a life.
The Utah Libertarian Party's Candidate’s Pledge provides as follows: “I promise that if elected I will vote in favor of all matters that lead to a reduction in taxes and government, and expansion of personal freedoms and against all matters causing higher taxes, bigger government, and restrictions on personal freedoms. If I ever act contrary to this pledge, I will publicly apologize and offer to resign.”
A governor's vote is expressed in signing (a vote in favor) or vetoing (a vote against) legislation. If elected, I will negotiate with legislators to enact a fiscally-responsible budget, and keep my pledge.
The Utah Libertarian Party's Candidate’s Pledge provides as follows: “I promise that if elected I will vote in favor of all matters that lead to a reduction in taxes and government, and expansion of personal freedoms and against all matters causing higher taxes, bigger government, and restrictions on personal freedoms."
I will use that pledge as a guide for determining whether to exercise a line-item veto.
Ideally, legislators would agree with me that state government needs to be "underthrown" by the growing number of peaceful Utahns practicing peaceful commerce and mutual aid.
Then, we could all return to our home communities and enjoy the blessings of liberty.
The native Americans who first inhabited Utah left a legacy that can teach us how to live in harmony with our natural and beautiful environs.
The entrepreneurial spirit motivating the early pioneers who later came to Utah continues to inspire our innovative culture.
The deformations in the national and even global economy caused by the federal government's monetary policies, which devalue the currency in which our homes are denominated as the rising prices of housing shows, will challenge Utahns to adapt.
Fortunately, Utahns are better-positioned than many to transition from the Federal Reserve's fiat currency system designed to make the Uniparty's wars look "free" to an economy based on sound money.
Emergency powers should be limited in scope and duration to prevent the expansion of state intervention in the lives of Utahns.
Emergency declarations are being abused.
The incumbent governor declared a six-day state of emergency on January 15, 2021 for the state of Utah's Capitol Hill complex, facilities and grounds in anticipation of protests. Despite the presence of hundreds of National Guard members and law enforcement officers, accounts from that day are unclear whether tourists outnumbered the peaceful protesters at certain times on Sunday, January 17, 2021.
The incumbent declared another state of emergency on April 18, 2023 to access the state of Utah's "rainy day fund" and seek funds from a federal government that is $35 trillion in debt and growing for anticipated flooding.
The excessive use of emergency declarations normalizes dictatorial-like exercises of power and discourages thoughtful preparations for predictable events.
As an entity that claims the monopoly on aggression, the cameras state agents train on ordinary citizens should be turned around, to borrow a concept from Brian Klaas.
I favor financial transparency for governments and their subordinate agencies, which should be independently audited annually.
A judicially-created doctrine called "qualified immunity" protects many who exercise state power from accountability. Scholar Joanna Schwartz does an excellent analysis of how state actors are legally insulated from responsibility for their decisions in her book "Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable."
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
J. Robert Latham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Latham's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Didn't vote for the largest corporate robbery of taxpayers in U.S. history (CARES Act). Didn't vote to reauthorize the ongoing warrantless searches and abuses of innocent Americans enabled by the FISA Act and USA PATRIOT Act (H.R. 6172). Didn't vote for what FreedomWorks calls "The Generational Theft Act" (H.R. 3877). Didn't vote against amendment to prohibit unauthorized military force in or against Iran (H.R. 2500). Didn't vote against amendment to eliminate $23.9 billion for State Department programs, which would have fully offset the separate and enormous disaster relief package (Walker Amendment (#89) to H.R. 2740). Represented prevailing petitioner in Marsha Holland vs. Spencer Cox, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, 4:18-cv-00074. Represented prevailing appellant in In re B.T.B., 2020 UT 60. Parental Defense Alliance of Utah, 2019 Appellate Attorney of the Year. Successfully defended parents responding to DCFS petitions to terminate their parental rights. Won multiple jury and bench trial acquittals for clients. Successfully challenged numerous unreasonable searches and seizures of clients. Former prosecutor for Big Water, Utah. Has successfully and tenaciously advocated for the interests of fellow Utahns for more than a generation. Supports juror nullification. Supports all your freedoms, all the time. No exceptions. No exclusions.
- Freedom good. Government bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.
- If you want real change, vote for the only candidate who is not a veteran of the Deep State.
- As a juror, vote "not guilty" when the law is unjust or unjustly applied.
In addition to championing the policies in the Libertarian Party's platform, if elected I'll introduce legislation to implement cabal-disrupting "service limits" on federal, state and local staffs to disrupt concentrations of political power and privilege.
I'll co-sponsor the Fair Representation Act to bring about gerrymander-proof and spoiler-proof elections for every American. I'll also sponsor legislation to authorize the use of democratic lotteries - that would be both election-free and voting-free -whether for state houses of representatives, county commissions, or city councils.
And because libertarians support both creators and consumers, while opposing monopolies that emerge only through Federal and State grants of privilege, I'll introduce legislation to abolish all forms of intellectual property law.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Governor of Utah |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Utah Lt. Governor: Elections, "2012 candidate filings," accessed May 25, 2012
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 22, 2024
- ↑ Associated Press: Election Results, "Utah - summary vote," accessed June 27, 2012
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State of Utah Salt Lake City (capital) |
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