Ross Anderson's defeat in the 2nd Congressional District wasn't the only reason, but some moderate Democrats are saying enough is enough and plan to formulate a strategy and raise money to help get their ilk nominated in major Utah races.
"We are not `anti-' anything," said Salt Lake City Councilman Stuart Reid, one of three organizers of the moderate Democrat movement. "Not anti-pro-choice or anti-gay. We're pro-moderate Democrat. We want a place at the party's table, and we don't have that now. Some moderate Democrats are now and then thrown some scraps. But basically (the state Democratic Party) is captured by liberals."The other two working on changing the makeup of the party are retiring House Minority Leader Frank Pignanelli, D-Salt Lake, and Kay Christensen, longtime Democratic worker and Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini's chief of staff.
Pignanelli doesn't use the same terms as Reid. He wants to redefine the image of Democrats in Utah. If it isn't, "Before long the party will be nonexistent outside Salt Lake City," says Pignanelli, who is retiring from elective office this year.
Reid said the three will hold an organizing meeting on a Saturday in the next several weeks. "Anyone interested in working with us to move the party more to the center - to where most Utahns are politically - will be welcome to attend," said Reid.
State party chairman Mike Zuhl said he's well aware of the plan. "I don't know if it is necessary. It may be helpful. I've told Frank and Stuart I don't mind as long as their efforts, especially fund-raising efforts, don't take away from the party's as we try to move forward. But really, the Utah Democratic Party doesn't need another faction. We have enough of those."
House Minority Whip Kelly Atkinson, D-West Jordan, ran against Anderson for the Democratic 2nd District nomination. Atkinson lost in the June 25 primary and Anderson went on to lose to Republican Merrill Cook. Atkinson is a strong supporter of Reid's plan.
Atkinson says the split within the Democratic Party has changed from a moderate vs. liberal tug of war to a Mormon/anti-Mormon fight.
"What has happened (in his campaign and Reid's move-to-center campaign) is very interesting," said Atkinson. "I've had any number of people (within the party) come to me and say, `I'm not voting for you or supporting you because you're a Mormon.' "
"I completely disagree with that (notion)," says Zuhl. "There are anecdotal incidents (of anti-Mormon activity within the party). But I haven't seen that on any level and certainly we have to be, and I think are, a broad party that accepts all kinds of people - all religions and, moderate, liberal and conservative people," said Zuhl.
But Pignanelli says it is more than anecdotal. Concerned about the direction of the party, several months ago Pignanelli sent out a letter to 2,000 Salt Lake County Democrats, some in leadership positions. The response he got was troubling.
"I had a number of people, very bright people who live on the East Bench with the letters "PhD" behind their names, calling me up and yelling at me. They said they didn't want those blank-blank Mormons in the party, that the Utah Democratic Party existed to oppose the LDS Church. I said no, the party is here to win elections.
"I called some of them bigots to their faces. I said if they put the word `Jew' in place of `Mormon' they'd realize what they were saying - that they were talking against the very civil libertarian views they profess to hold," said Pignanelli, who himself is a practicing Catholic.
"I believe that not only do we as Democrats need to address the social issues that spilt our party. We have to address this religious issues as well, as uncomfortable as that may be. It has to be faced," said Pignanelli.
Reid, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said he doesn't see the split in religious terms. Rather, Reid says, moderate Democrats must organize, speak out, raise money and win party nominations "or the party just ceases - in real terms - to exist."
In fact, says Reid, there are only two real political parties in Utah now. "You have the moderate Republican Party and the extreme right Republican Party. Moderate Democrats have no place to go, none. And, whether they admit it or not, the liberal Democrats have no voice, either."
That's because Democrats hold no major policymaking or legislative offices in the state, says Reid. "In my view, the Democratic Party now is irrelevant," Reid said. "We need a real two-party system in this state. That's not only good for Democrats, it is really good for all citizens."
The highest-ranking Democrat in the state is Attorney General Jan Graham, but her office makes no laws, sets no policies or tax rates, spends little money in the overall $5 billion state budget. Republicans hold the executive branch and two-third majorities in the Utah House and Senate. Most county commissions are controlled by Republicans.
Pignanelli said many of those who fear Mormons in the party were raised LDS but have left the church. "They said our group would just try to find LDS candidates to run. Not at all. We want candidates who can win, and a party that can win. We want no litmus test for support - not if you are pro-choice or pro-gay or LDS or not or anything."
Part of Reid's idea is to develop a strategy to get moderate Democrats "a voice in the party," raise money via a political action committee to help moderate Democratic candidates both at the convention and in a primary and especially to educate all Utahns that the party is moving to the center and represents the values of average, working people.
But might not a "moderate" Democratic PAC backing "moderate" candidates in a primary lead to other, more "liberal" groups - be they pro-choice or gays and lesbians or any other faction - to do fund-raising on its own to promote its candidates? In other words, more of a split than there is now within the party?
"I worry about that," says Zuhl. "And I worry about the message" that Reid's group brings: That the Utah Democratic Party and, especially, all its candidates are too liberal now.
"No way you can say candidates like (U.S. House member) Bill Orton and (legislative candidates) Grant Protz-man and Eldon Money (all moderate, faithful Mormons who lost last week) don't reflect mainstream Utah. They do. Yet they lost. There is no simple answer to our (party's) problems.
"I understand that some people are frustrated. We've been in the minority in this state for 20 years. People are searching for answers. I don't know if this (Reid's group) is it."