United Utah Party
ChairpersonHillary Sterling
Founded2017 (2017)
Membership (2021)2,565[1]
IdeologyCentrism
Third Way
Reformism
Political positionCenter[2]
Colors  Maroon
U.S. Senate (Utah Seats)
0 / 2
U.S. House of Representatives (Utah Seats)
0 / 4
Seats in the State Senate
0 / 29
Seats in the State House
0 / 75
Other elected offices1 (Teri McCabe – Provo City School Board)
Website
www.unitedutah.org

The United Utah Party (UUP) is a centrist political party in the United States. It was founded in 2017 and is active only in the state of Utah. The party identifies itself as politically moderate, and was created out of frustration with the Republican and Democratic parties.

History

Background and formation

Prior to the formation of the United Utah Party, Brigham Young University (BYU) political science professor Richard Davis had considered forming a political party for years. According to Davis, he found people were open to an alternative political party during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[3] He announced the formation of the party on May 22, 2017.[4] Davis became a chairperson for the party. Jim Bennett, the son of former U.S. Senator Bob Bennett, was the party's executive director until he stepped down to run as the UUP's candidate in a special congressional election to replace Jason Chaffetz.[2] Nils Bergeson, a former U.S. foreign service officer, became the party's second executive director in 2018.[5]

2017 Utah congressional election

On May 26, 2017, Jim Bennett attempted to apply as an affiliated candidate in Utah's 3rd congressional district special election, 2017, but the lieutenant governor's office rejected the application because the elections office had not had 30 days to finish certifying the new party.[6][7] Bennett refused to register as an unaffiliated candidate.[8] Utah's elections office certified the party on June 27, 2017.[9]

Former logo used in the 2017 and 2018 elections.

On June 21, 2017, the UUP filed a lawsuit against Utah state officials to get Bennett's name on the ballot.[10] In court, a Utah state attorney argued that the UUP could have formed earlier to meet the application deadline. A party lawyer argued that only a "soothsayer" could have predicted that Jason Chaffetz would resign from the U.S. House of Representatives.[11] On August 2, 2017, a federal judge in charge of the case ordered Utah election officials to allow Bennett on the ballot under the United Utah Party.[12]

2018 UUP Convention.

In late September 2017, Bennett narrowly qualified to participate in the Utah Debate Commission's selective debate, along with the election's Republican and Democratic candidates, John Curtis and Kathie Allen.[13] The special election was held on November 7, 2017, and Bennett conceded the race hours after the polls closed and initial results showed Curtis winning and Allen getting second place.[14] Bennett got third place with 9.3% of the popular vote.[15]

2018 House of Representatives elections

In February 2018, two UUP candidates announced they would run for the United States House of Representatives: Jan Garbett and Logan, Utah native Eric Eliason, who challenged Republicans Chris Stewart and Rob Bishop respectively.[16] On March 20, 2018, the United Utah Party held caucuses at 19 locations with attendance of just over 900 people, when the party had just over 400 registered members.[17] Garbett later withdrew from the race. Eliason was defeated, receiving 11.6% of the vote as Rob Bishop was reelected to what would become his final term.

2020 elections

Candidates

Name Office Votes % Position Margin with

winner

Brian Fabbi State Auditor 173,644 13.0 2nd 61.8
Thomas McNeill US Representative - CD3 7,040 2.0 4th 66.7
Jonia Broderick US Representative - CD4 8,037 2.1 4th 45.6
Emily Bergeson State Senator - SD7 11,351 22.3 2nd 55.4
Chris Rawlins State Representative - HD6 4,767 19.6 2nd 60.8
Shawn Ferriola State Representative - HD12 3,983 22.8 2nd 54.4
Ammon Gruwell State Representative - HD15 5,301 22.8 2nd 54.4
Cabot Nelson State Representative - HD25 607 3.0 3rd 79.8
Tanner Greenhalgh State Representative - HD29 691 3.1 3rd 75.5
Adam Bean State Representative - HD35 662 4.5 3rd 63.3
Dave Lundgren State Representative - HD41 1,602 6.4 3rd 63.0
Ryan Boudwin State Representative - HD42 1,178 4.9 3rd 53.6
Jeff Bardin State Representative - HD43 825 5.4 3rd 47.0
John Jackson State Representative - HD44 733 3.9 3rd 51.8
Joseph Shelton State Representative - HD48 654 3.7 3rd 68.6
Kate Walters State Representative - HD56 3,576 18.4 2nd 63.2
Homer Morrill State Representative - HD58 809 4.8 3rd 79.8
Catherine Eslinger State Representative - HD59 4,841 24.2 2nd 51.5
Christine Heath State Representative - HD60 3,540 22.0 2nd 50.7
Nils Bergeson State Representative - HD61 3,034 20.3 2nd 59.4
Austin Simcox State Representative - HD63 588 7.6 3rd 53.4
Piper Manesse State Representative - HD72 1,374 7.5 3rd 67.9
Ed Phillips Millard County Commissioner 2,319 38.3 2nd 23.4
Monette Clark San Juan County Commissioner 481 20.6 2nd 58.7
Larry Smith Sanpete County Commissioner 2,672 22.1 2nd 55.8

2022 elections

Candidates

Name Office Votes % Position Margin with

winner

Evan McMullin Senate (endorse) 459,958 42.7 2nd 10.5
Thomas Horne State Treasurer (special) 94,265 9.6 3rd 64.5
Jay Mcfarland US Representative - CD2 8,622 3.3 3rd 56.4
January Walker US Representative - CD4 16,740 6.6 3rd 54.5
Kimberly Wagner State Senator - SD7 10,651 28.1 2nd 43.8
Dennis Roach State Senator - SD14 929 1.8 3rd 60.4
Jed Nordfeldt State Senator - SD18 1,842 5.1 3rd 61.3
Tyler Peterson State Senator - SD19 3,301 6.9 3rd 51.5
Patricia Bradford State Senator - SD28 3,354 9.0 3rd 71.9
Ammon Gruwell State Representative - HD15 3,147 22.4 2nd 55.3
Cabot Nelson State Representative - HD23 535 2.6 3rd 74.0
Evan Rodgers State Representative - HD30 638 6.2 3rd 42.5
Adam Bean State Representative - HD32 353 2.7 3rd 69.9
Tim Loftis State Representative - HD40 439 3.8 3rd 52.0
David Jack State Representative - HD42 4,326 21.7 2nd 36.1
Ladd Johnson State Representative - HD46 5,562 35.5 2nd 29.1
Dave Lundgren State Representative - HD47 4,530 29.8 2nd 40.4
Andrew Matishen State Representative - HD54 993 5.5 3rd 74.6
Alan Wessman State Representative - HD64 2,761 20.0 2nd 60.0
Zeno Parry State Representative - HD70 1,228 8.1 2nd 83.8
Piper Manesse State Representative - HD71 886 7.2 3rd 69.3
Jonathan Munoz Millard County Commissioner 2,188 43.2 2nd 13.7

Political positions

According to former UUP chairman Richard Davis, the party's platform is mostly based on laws and principles, rather than specific social positions.[3] He told The Salt Lake Tribune that the party supports term limits, stricter campaign-finance laws, efforts to stop gerrymandering, and increased school funding. The party's platform also includes enforcing immigration laws "with compassion," and generally opposes abortion with specific exceptions.[2] The party believes that public lands can be preserved while still allowing economic development.[3] The UUP supports the right of responsible gun owners to possess firearms.[18]

The UUP supports efforts to stop using taxpayer money in the Utah Republican Party's closed primary elections.[19] On December 1, 2017, the party called for greater transparency regarding sexual harassment allegations on Capitol Hill.[20] In January 2018, the UUP announced support for the "Our Schools Now" initiative, a proposed progressive tax meant to increase funding for education.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Current Voter Registration Statistics". vote.utah.gov. July 28, 2020. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "New centrist party forms in Utah to attract disaffected Republicans, Democrats". The Salt Lake Tribune. May 22, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Jarman, Sara (August 10, 2017). "What is the United Utah Party?". KSL-TV. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ Romboy, Dennis (May 22, 2017). "Frustrated Utah Republicans, Democrats form new centrist political party". Deseret News. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ "United Utah Party caucuses exceed expectations with 900 attendees".
  6. ↑ Tanner, Courtney; Harrie, Dan (May 25, 2017). "Jim Bennett tries to jump into race for Congress, but state won't let him under new party's banner". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ Harris, Dylan Woolf (May 27, 2017). "Hot for Chaffetz' Seat". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ Roche, Lisa Riley (June 17, 2017). "Backers of new Utah political party say they'll sue to get candidate in congressional race". KSL-TV. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Ritchey, Julia (June 27, 2017). "New Centrist Party Recognized By State Amid Lawsuit". KUER 90.1. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  10. ↑ "New Utah party sues to get onto ballot to replace Chaffetz". Fox News. June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  11. ↑ Romboy, Dennis (July 14, 2017). "State, United Utah Party argue over access to 3rd District special election ballot". KSL-TV. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  12. ↑ Price, Michelle L. (August 2, 2017). "Judge: Bennett's Son Can Join Utah Race to Replace Chaffetz". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  13. ↑ Tanner, Courtney (September 22, 2017). "United Utah hopeful Jim Bennett qualifies for 3rd District debate in race to fill seat vacated by Jason Chaffetz". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ Tanner, Courtney (November 7, 2018). "Republican John Curtis easily beats Democrat Kathie Allen, even in Salt Lake County". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Utah Election Preliminary Results". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  16. ↑ Cathcart, Preston (February 13, 2018). "United Utah Party candidates to challenge 2 congressmen". Deseret News. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  17. ↑ Klopfenstein, Jacob (March 22, 2018). "United Utah Party caucuses exceed expectations with 900 attendees". KSL-TV. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Platform". United Utah Party. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  19. ↑ Davidson, Lee (August 10, 2017). "New party seeks to end state funding for closed Republican primaries". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  20. ↑ Romboy, Dennis (December 2, 2017). "Utah Rep. Mia Love proposes to end taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements". KSL-TV. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ Wood, Benjamin (January 18, 2018). "United Utah party backs $715 million-a-year school funding initiative, but state's Democrats and GOP aren't choosing sides". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
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