Following his primary election defeat in June, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams continued to receive significant campaign funding. According to state financial disclosure records, Adams' campaign raised $117,600 in donations during the period from July 1 to July 21.
Several large contributions were identified from real estate and development entities. These included a $25,000 donation on July 1 from Lehi-based Building Construction Partners LLC, which owns Flagship Homes, and a $25,000 donation on July 21 from John Miller, the chairman of Dakota Pacific Real Estate.
On July 21, David Layton, the president and CEO of Layton Construction, also contributed $25,000. Additionally, Florida-based GridLiance West provided a $2,500 donation on July 21. The company is involved in the High West Transmission Project, which seeks to connect power generators in Utah and Nevada to the California power grid.
Two significant donations received on July 21 originated from individuals and companies connected to the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA), an organization Adams chairs. Gershon Barnett, who runs Extell Development—the lead private company in MIDA’s Military Recreation Facility area involving the Deer Valley Resort expansion—donated $25,000.
Barnett was among donors linked to MIDA who contributed $135,000 to Adams' leadership PAC a week after MIDA approved a 40,000-acre data center project in Box Elder County. Furthermore, Dallas-based Dart Industries gave $10,000 to the campaign. Dart Industries purchased 13 acres of real estate within the Deer Valley MIDA project from Extell last October for the purpose of building an Evermore Resort.
Adams also utilized funds from his leadership PAC, moving $55,000 into his campaign after previously transferring $45,000 in January. The Utah Republican Senate Campaign Committee (URSCC), another PAC controlled by Adams, contributed $25,000 to the campaign, following a previous $15,000 contribution in January.
Prior to the election, Adams' leadership PAC provided more than $65,000 in in-kind donations to his campaign to cover advertising costs. While it is possible these post-election funds are intended to cover outstanding primary expenses, Adams did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the fundraising.
Adams reported having just over $119,000 in cash on hand one week prior to the election. Any remaining primary expenses will not be made public until the next reporting period closes on September 25.
