Monday evening, a press release titled “A Multi-Partisan Response to the Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump” was sent to the Standard-Examiner.

“We, the undersigned representatives of our major political parties, strongly condemn the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Former President Trump,” the statement reads. “This violence is an attack on our nation’s way of life and the principles of civil discourse.

“We urge all citizens to unite as friends, family and community against such acts and to peacefully resolve our differences through dialogue and mutual respect. Let us focus on reasonable and sensible solutions to our disagreements, fostering a society where all voices can be heard without fear.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Former President Donald Trump, the victim who lost his life, those injured and their families.”

The statement was signed by:

• U.S. Rep. Blake Moore, a Republican representing the 1st Congressional District
• District 1 Democratic candidate Bill Campbell
• Robert Axson, Utah Republican Party chair
• Emma Mansour, Davis County Democratic Party chair
• Yemi Arunsi, Davis County Republican Party chair
• Chris Null, Salt Lake County Republican Party chair
• Holly Crowley-Rabanne, Tooele County Republican Party chair
• Katie Adams-Anderton, Utah Democratic Party chair of county chairs and chair of the Utah County Democratic Party
• Cristy Henshaw, Utah County Republican Party chair
• Lesa Sandberg, Washington County Republican Party chair
• Chuck Goode, Washington County Democratic Party chair
• Katie Nielsen, Weber County Democratic Party chair
• Jackson Wing, Weber County Republican Party chair

On Tuesday, Nielsen offered a statement from the Weber County Democratic Party:

“At this point in time our candidates are not reporting issues related to the incident, and they have resumed campaigning in full swing,” she said in an email to the Standard-Examiner. “The Weber County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement have historically done well at identifying and defusing any threats related to political violence. We continue to trust in our law enforcement agencies and will not let this incident deter us from our local efforts. Weber Democrats have faith in our Lt. Governor’s election team and outstanding Weber County Elections staff under Clerk Ricky Hatch. We carry on our work to offer voters a choice.”

Wing told the Standard-Examiner that there’s a need to better humanize those who don’t agree.

“I think we all need to remember who we are individually and as a society,” he said in an email. “We are all human with our own individual experiences, opinions, feelings, families, careers, fears, etc. We live next door to others just like us, and our society is intertwined with those that go through life and figure it out, just like we do. I feel as though sometimes what we believe politically becomes our identity, which means to be wrong politically becomes a total destruction of our entire framework of beliefs. We need to remember to connect on a human level so that we can disagree with someone else politically and still get along with them. If we choose instead to “fall on the sword” and choose to defend our position, even if it’s wrong, then we begin to label our opposition as the “enemy” or “evil” which isolates “them” and creates a rift which only divides and creates animosity, which in turn leads to anger and hate.”

He summed up the Weber County GOP’s position with these points:

• “remember we are all human, we all have worth, and we should treat others with respect.”
• “turn off the tv/social media and tune out the sensationalism and the hyperbole the news media and influencers spit out.”
• “connect with neighbors, family, and friends, and learn to befriend those who believe opposite of you.”

Henshaw also provided a statement elaborating on the unified political message:

“The Utah County Republican Party is fully supportive of the multi-Party statement offering condolences and shedding light on what those who give political service already know: that hyperbolic misconceptions exist and do not reflect the reality that the majority of Republicans consider ourselves Americans first; we want what’s best for our neighbors–regardless of political affiliation; and we hold our First Amendment Right sacred and vital to the open dialogue required to build bridges and engage in honest, political debate. The answer to speech that we do not like is more speech. This terrible tragedy stands as a reminder of the values that bring us all together and that we are more alike than different. Again, our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy and we express gratitude to our larger political family of multiple affiliations willing to join us in this statement.”