Utah governor voting for Cruz

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced on Monday he is voting for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz in the Utah caucuses.

Herbert said in a Facebook post he was joining 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney in casting his vote on Tuesday for the Texas senator.

{mosads}”Ted Cruz is a consistent conservative who understands the importance of federalism,” he wrote.

“I’m confident he will work to limit the federal government when it comes to education, public lands and other issues where states can do better than the federal government.”

Herbert noted in the post that Utah has 40 delegates at stake. If a candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, that candidate will receive all of the delegates.

The state will “play a critical role” in nominating the Republican presidential candidate, Herbert wrote.

“Utah is no longer considered a flyover state,” he said.

“With one vacancy and possibly more on the U.S. Supreme Court, it is essential we have a president who will nominate a strong conservative to the court who will use the Constitution as his or her guide.”

He said he appreciates that the candidates visited Utah this past weekend, saying it was helpful for the “candidates to see firsthand what’s going on in the home of the nation’s number one performing economy.”

“Too often campaigns are all flash and no substance,” he said.

“Utahns deserve well thought out policy and plans.”

Cruz is leading front-runner Donald Trump in Utah, according to a Y2 Analytics survey. Cruz has 53 percent support in that poll.