The Utah Republican Party will consider changes that could fundamentally reshape who gets to run for office under the GOP banner, with hardliners hoping to punish candidates who collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.
One proposal that GOP delegates will vote on at next weekend’s state convention would strip party membership for one year from any candidate that collects signatures to secure a spot on the ballot, even if they’re unsuccessful. The same proposal also lowers the threshold for a candidate to win the party nomination outright at convention from 60% to a simple majority.
It’s the latest attack on Utah’s dual path nominating system, which allows candidates to avoid elimination at the party convention by petitioning their their way into the primary election. The system, known as SB54, has been under fire from Republican Party delegates from almost the moment it was approved by lawmakers in 2014 as part of a compromise to save the caucus and convention system.
Had these rules been in place during the 2024 election cycle, Utah’s political landscape might look dramatically different, with several prominent Republican leaders potentially sidelined:
- Gov. Spencer Cox qualified for the gubernatorial primary via signatures where he defeated Phil Lyman. However, Lyman won the convention vote and would have avoided a primary.
- Sen. John Curtis collected signatures and won a four-way GOP primary over Trent Staggs, Brad Wilson and Jason Walton. In this scenario, Staggs would have won the nomination outright at the convention, negating a primary. Along with Curtis, Wilson, Walton and Brent Hatch would be former Republicans because they either gathered or attempted to gather signatures.
- Republicans would not have fielded a candidate in the 1st Congressional district. Both Rep. Blake Moore and Derek Draper attempted to gather signatures (only Moore was successful). Draper defeated Moore in the convention vote.
- Colby Jenkins, who narrowly lost to incumbent Celeste Maloy in the 2nd Congressional District GOP primary, would not have gotten that chance because he attempted to collect signatures and lost the convention vote to Maloy.
- Frank Mylar would likely be Utah’s Attorney General instead of Derek Brown. Brown collected signatures, but finished third at the state convention behind Mylar and Rachel Terry.
The changes would also impact numerous Republican incumbents in the Utah Legislature potentially forcing out six in the Utah Senate and nearly half of the GOP caucus in the House (31). This includes some key leadership positions.
- House Speaker Mike Schultz
- House Majority Leader Jefferson Moss
- House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee
- Senate Majority Whip Mike McKell
Another proposal is a response to the situation that unfolded after former Rep. Kera Birkeland abruptly resigned her spot in the Legislature a few weeks after she had won re-election to another term. Kris Campbell lost to Birkeland twice as the Democratic nominee, but switched affiliation to the GOP to run in the special election to replace her.
To prevent a similar situation in the future, candidates would be required to be registered as a Republican for the previous year before launching their candidacy.
In an explanation attached to the proposition, sponsor Aaron Bullen says he wants to make sure candidates have “buy in” to what the GOP stands for.
“I fundamentally believe someone’s first act as a ‘Republican’ should not be to run for elected office,” Bullen writes.
Under Utah law, a candidate must be registered as a member of the political party of which they’re seeking the nomination unless party rules permit it. There is no requirement that they be registered for a specified length of time. Bullen’s proposal would only apply in the case of a special election to fill a vacancy in the Legislature.
To be adopted, amendments to the Utah GOP constitution require a two-thirds vote from delegates.
The Utah Republican State Convention is set for Saturday, May 17 at Utah Valley University.
