Dems back McMullin for Senate at state convention
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- Evan McMullin addresses delegates during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022. While running as an independent, he will have the support of the Utah Democratic Party in the race for U.S. Senate.
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- Supporters of Evan McMullin raise signs during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- A delegate drops his ballot into a box during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Representatives for Evan McMullin and Kael Weston’s Senate campaigns discuss speaking procedures behind a curtain during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Democrat Kael Weston addresses delegates during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Delegates raise their placards in the air to vote during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Evan McMullin listens to speakers during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Former Rep. Ben McAdams, left, and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, wearing stickers supporting independent U.S. Senate candidate Evan McMullin, talk to each other during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Former Utah Democratic Party Chair Jeff Merchant speaks while delegates vote during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
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- Supporters of Kael Weston raise signs during the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
For hours, the debate raged on. For the most part, it was the debate about the debate.
Over 1,300 Utah Democrats participated Saturday in the state convention to determine party leadership, the party platform and candidates for a host of federal elections. At the forefront of everyone’s minds, though, was the U.S. Senate.
With a motion brought forward, as was planned, by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, the delegates were given a choice between Kael Weston, the lone Democrat in the race, or having no candidate while supporting Evan McMullin’s bid as an independent.
By late afternoon, the votes had been counted and it was decided that McMullin will have the full support of the Utah Democratic Party and the Senate campaign comes to a close for the former State Department official Weston. In the end, 594 delegates (43%) voted to support Weston while 782 (57%) backed the no-candidate option, clearing the way for McMullin.
It was the end of a difficult road for Weston; but in a press conference after the convention, said he wasn’t done working.
“I don’t have a horse outside this high school. I’m not going to ride off into the sunset and hang out in Kane County for the next five years. There are important battles, there are important issues that we need to speak to and I intend to do that,” he said.
Before the end result could be determined, though, drama ensued in the Cottonwood High School auditorium. As he wasn’t seeking a spot on the ballot as a Democrat, McMullin was not able to address the delegates, both gathered in-person and online.
To avoid a free-for-all with speakers, Jeff Merchant, the former Utah Democratic Party chair, offered that each campaign would have five people speak on their behalf for one minute each. The rule was questioned — with one delegate proposing that the two go to a primary election, which was summarily shot down — with the two campaigns eventually going behind the stage to negotiate.
After more than 30 minutes, the two sides agreed on the five speaker plan. Each of Weston’s speakers spoke emphatically about the value of a candidate with a “D” next to their name. Some called it an attempt to “disenfranchise” Democrats looking to support a candidate with whom they agree.
For the McMullin campaign, it was a steady stream of elected officials including Wilson, former Reps. Ben McAdams and Jim Matheson and Utah House candidate Daniel Friend, of Provo. The fifth speaker drew an immediate reaction from the crowd — McMullin himself.
After a brief huddle between Merchant and members of the party, McMullin was allowed to speak despite not being a Democratic state delegate. He used his minute to speak about democracy and urge, for one final time, that delegates support him.
Despite his plea, many of the delegates supporting Weston were angered at McMullin’s plan and presence. Some in the crowd booed, others yelled “traitor” and other one-word descriptors meant to show their displeasure.
While he does not align with most traditional Democratic policy positions, McMullin will actively court their votes until November and believes his message of being pro-democracy will resonate with voters. He also told the press after the convention he will ask Weston to support his campaign.
“I know that we have far more in common in this coalition than in difference and few leaders will acknowledge that, but it’s true,” McMullin said after the convention. “Democrats are putting country over party,” he said.
Ogden Rep. Rosemary Lesser, while not among the group jeering the former presidential candidate, nonetheless was hoping for a different outcome. Despite her support for a Democrat being on the ballot, she said “it was the voice of the people who were there.”
Lesser added that she doesn’t expect the Senate race to have an effect on her own campaign for the Utah House District 10 seat, saying that she wants her candidacy to be about herself and her policies. Weston did, though, have a message for other candidates in case the question comes up.
“Regardless of the drama that surrounded me and the Senate race, you’re doing the right thing and you’re going to be able to take those issues to voters,” he said.
Katie Adams-Anderton, chair of the Utah County Democratic Party, is concerned that not backing Weston could have an effect on other candidates and the voters. She is worried that Utah County Democrats may not receive the amount of volunteers and resources they would need to compete in local races.
“Our members are our life blood to support candidates, and many do not feel like they can trust the party anymore,” she said. “I am not happy at all on this situation, but I am going to try to ensure both our campaigns and membership stay intact. I’m not asking anyone to support Evan, but I am asking them to support candidates whose ideology represent their way of thinking.”
Moving forward in the Senate race, the plan is simple and written across yard signs held by McMullin supporters throughout the day. They want to “Beat Lee.”
“We know that Sen. Mike Lee was quite involved in the effort to overturn our democracy and we have got to take a stand as Utahns. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, an independent, a Republican or a member of the United Utah Party — this is a line that can not be crossed, our right to hold our leaders accountable and vote for or against them and have peaceful transitions of power,” McMullin said.
Other results
Also in question were the four congressional seats up for election. All four Republican incumbents advanced to June primaries, but the Democratic races have all been decided.
Two of the races included only one candidate; therefore, Darlene McDonald will be the nominee in the 4th District and Rick Jones will represent the party in the 1st District. The two contested races were for the 2nd District — represented by Rep. Chris Stewart and stretching from Davis County along the rural western and southern borders of the state — and the 3rd District from Utah County to Park City and Moab.
Summit County Council member Glenn Wright will be the 3rd District nominee after receiving 291 votes (91.22%) compared to Orem resident Archie Williams’ 28 votes (8.78%).
The 2nd District candidate will be Nick Mitchell, narrowly avoiding a primary with 198 votes (60.18%) compared to Steve Hartwick’s 131 (39.82%).