April brings Easter, flowers, warmer weather (well, sometimes) and political conventions. The gathering of county delegates provides insight into the trends of the major political parties. Politicos were also ruminating on last-minute surprises in congressional and legislative races. We explain. (Frank also spouts about the Pope v. Trump debate.)
Republicans and Democrats gathered for county conventions across the state over the last two weeks to choose who would represent them in the state legislature or fill county offices. Did the results indicate any noticeable trends?
Cowley and Pignanelli: Convention results didn’t show any real signs of a referendum on incumbents, as many predicted. Delegates are known for holding hard-line, extreme positions, but this year, remarkably, they seemed a bit more in lockstep with the majority of their respective parties. Republican legislators can take this as a sign that their base is pleased with their actions.
Davis County Republican Party leaders encouraged convention participants to oppose candidates who also gathered signatures. Yet, many of these candidates garnered enough delegate support to advance to the primary (two were the top vote-getters in their contests). Additionally, a proposal was brought forward at the Salt Lake County Convention to abolish IVF, but it ultimately failed.
Sitting state Sen. Brady Brammer, R-Pleasant Grove, received 68% of the vote at the convention. Because his challenger gathered signatures, voters will weigh in on this primary election rematch. Political pundits (ourselves included) forecast the reelection of Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, as a race to watch. Teuscher received 41 votes to Scott Stephenson’s 24 votes. They will face off again in the primary.
Rep. Norman Thurston, R-Provo, won an impressive 87% of the delegate vote, avoiding a primary. Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, garnered 96%. He now avoids a contested primary and general election.
Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, also secured the Republican nomination in convention, beating out his two interparty challengers.
Some incumbents and quasi-incumbents lost in convention, proving delegates are still willing to push back on officeholders, especially those embroiled in controversy.
Sitting Salt Lake County Councilwoman Laurie Stringham was soundly defeated by Kathleen Anderson, who earned 69% of the vote. Stringham faced criticism for raising taxes, not cutting deputy mayor positions and her support for a lavish new government center.
Utah County Clerk incumbent Aaron Davidson came up short against challenger Corey Astill, 58 to 42. Davidson took a lot of heat in recent years over election administration and his handling of voter records.
Republican former Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi received 35% in the contest for county commissioner for a second-place finish. She’ll have another bite at the apple in June, thanks to her successful signature-gathering efforts.
For years, most Democratic incumbents faced little interparty opposition. That element is no longer the case. The results of the Salt Lake County district attorney race shocked many, as newcomer Shawn Robinson captured 53% to 47% against Democrat Sim Gill, who is seeking his fifth term in office.
State Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek, was awarded 59% at the convention against Tayler Khater. Pitcher’s effectiveness in the GOP-dominated Legislature was, bizarrely, an issue for some delegates. Similar dynamics occurred for incumbent Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, who received 47% of the vote against Wendy Davis’ 53%.
All the Democrats above are headed to the primary while Rep. John Arthur, D-Salt Lake City, who has served only one session and doesn’t have the “blemish of incumbency,” received 100% at convention.
Utah was hit with a double whammy last week. Serious contender for the Democratic nomination in the new District 1, state Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, admitted to posting on X numerous insults to women, children and the local religious institution. Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, was accused of fraud and leveraging his position to help a client. Legislative leadership from both sides weighed in on the matters.
Cowley and Pignanelli: Utah voters extol the virtues of civility in campaigns and poo-poo mudslinging, yet last-minute political attacks have proven effective once again. In the wake of recent allegations leveled against Lee, accusing him of business fraud, Lee came in second to challenger and Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson, 45 to 55.
Blouin gathered enough signatures to qualify for the primary ballot and collected endorsements from high-profile national and local left-wing progressives. But his potential threat to Ben McAdams’ lead is likely extinguished.
The controversy surrounding these primaries will gather attention beyond Utah.
The exchange between Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump is unprecedented. Could this have consequences nationally and locally?
Pignanelli: Preventing tyrannies that spread terror access to nuclear weapons is a sound policy I support. However, regardless of the negotiation process, threats by the world’s most powerful leader to exterminate a civilization create angst with religious leaders. Bob Prevost took the vow of poverty at 26 and spent 43 years serving the poor in Peru and elsewhere. This Italian Irish Catholic (along with millions of others) believes the man is saintly. Pope Leo inspires all to seek peace and deserves respect. Further, the New Yorker Trump has met his match with this South Side Chicagoan.
Cowley: Thomas Jefferson wrote about the separation of church and state, yet the two are inextricably tied, as religious values guide political views. A threat to destroy an entire civilization by the world’s most powerful man merits a response from global religious leaders.