Utah Republican Party elects replacement for state lawmaker

The Salt Lake County Republican Party has elected a replacement for a Utah state representative who resigned from the Legislature to join the private sector.

The Deseret News reported Steve Christiansen is expected to be sworn into the Utah House of Representatives Monday.

Christiansen will represent District 47 following a special election conducted by the Salt Lake County GOP last week.

The Salt Lake County GOP says in a statement that Christiansen defeated Nathan Brown and Stacy Norton in a party vote.

Christiansen replaces former Rep. Ken Ivory, who resigned in August to take a position with an artificial intelligence company.

Salt Lake County Republican Chair Scott Miller says the party anticipates Christiansen’s “principled leadership.”

Christiansen’s biography on the party’s website says he has been a small business owner.