Mike LeeMichael Shumway Lee (born June 4, 1971) is an American politician, businessman and attorney serving as the senior United States Senator from Utah. A conservative Republican, Lee has served in the Senate since January 3, 2011. Lee began his career as clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah before clerking for future Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who was then a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. From 2002 to 2005, Lee was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah. Subsequently, he joined the administration of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, serving as the general counsel in the governor's office from 2005 to 2006. In 2010, during the Tea Party movement, Lee entered the party caucus process to challenge incumbent three-term Republican senator Bob Bennett. He defeated Bennett and business owner Tim Bridgewater during the nominating process at the Utah Republican Party Convention, receiving 1,854 votes in the final round. The two highest caucus performers were then put before primary voters, with Lee winning with 51% of the vote. He then defeated Democratic nominee Sam Granato in the general election with 61% of the vote to Granato's 32%. He was reelected in 2016 and became the dean of Utah's congressional delegation when Representative Rob Bishop retired in January 2021. Lee chaired the Joint Economic Committee from 2019 to 2021. Read More Read Less