Democrat Kael Weston and McMullin both vied for the state Democratic Party’s support.
In an extraordinary move on Saturday, Utah Democrats voted to back independent candidate Evan McMullin over Democrat Kael Weston to challenge Utah Republicans’ nominee for U.S. Senate later this year.
At the Utah Democratic Convention at Cottonwood High School in Murray, Democrat Kael Weston and McMullin both vied for the delegates’ support in their races for Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Lee’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
McMullin received 782 of the delegate’s votes to Weston’s 594 votes, according to preliminary results.
It’s an unprecedented measure for Utah’s Democrats, who grappled between choosing party loyalty or backing an outsider in a calculated attempt to increase the likelihood of defeating a Republican in November.
Incumbent GOP Sen. Mike Lee, who is running for his third term this year, was often mentioned as the challenger this fall. On Saturday, Lee won the support of Republican delegates at their own convention with around 75% support. He will face challengers Ally Isom and Becky Edwards in June’s primary.
After a calm morning of introducing nominees for state races, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, made a motion to ask the party “to join Evan McMullin’s independent coalition to beat Mike Lee,” not Weston, who remained an uncontested Democrat.
In-fighting, debate and insults between Democrats ensued for nearly two hours.
Several delegates booed Wilson and a shouting match followed, prompting Utah Democratic Convention Chair Jeff Merchant to say he would not tolerate anyone speaking out of order. One delegate in the crowd, Rob Wabley, shouted “Shame on you!” and “Spineless!”
“We should put forward a Democrat,” the Vernal resident said.
“I understand that there are a lot of people that have a lot of opinions of this,” Merchant said, asking delegates to share their opinion at a microphone.
After a pair of short recesses for the party to discuss how to formally move forward with the convention’s proceedings, Wilson amended her motion to offer delegates an option; either nominate uncontested Democrat Weston or the party should join McMullin’s independent coalition. Both Weston and McMullin’s campaigns approved of the language.
Lee looms large over Democrats
In his opening remarks, Merchant told the crowded high school auditorium that he felt honored to be part of what “will be both a historic and exciting day today.”
It’s been more than half a century since a Democrat was elected as a U.S. Senator to represent Utah. While several booths at the convention focused on a myriad of progressive issues like women’s reproductive rights and improving air quality, one message stood out: Get Lee out of office.
In a bombshell report by CNN released last week, texts sent by Lee to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows indicated Lee looked into inquiries about overturning the 2020 presidential election results in favor of President Donald Trump. It’s the latest controversy surrounding Lee that has drawn ire from Utah Democrats.
“I think Mike Lee really had the opportunity to change the course of history. I think he blew it,” said Lee Brinton, 64, of Murray, who…
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