One prominent person who was rooting against the Celtics signing was Ainge’s son, Tanner, who is a candidate in the Republican primary for the special election to fill the congressional seat previously held by Jason Chaffetz. Ainge had openly encouraged Hayward to stay in Utah.
With the Jazz being one of just two major sports teams in the state (the Real Salt Lake soccer club is the other), Republican operative Chuck Warren said it’s possible Hayward’s decision could influence the election.
Daily Emails and Alerts- Get the best of Newsweek delivered to your inbox
“It seems ridiculous, but if he goes to Boston and a candidate’s dad takes him away…we’re in an an age of crazy politics, so who knows what could set voters off,” Warren said.
Tanner Ainge is facing off against former state legislator Chris Herrod and Provo Mayor John Curtis in the GOP primary. While Herrod and Curtis have more political experience, the Ainge family is well-known in the state. Danny Ainge was a star player at Brigham Young University (BYU).
“If there was a three-sided coin, it’s really a flip of the coin,” Warren said. “It’s wide-open.”
Read the full article at Newsweek — source link pending review.