{"id":2218,"date":"2023-12-19T23:39:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T00:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/?p=2218"},"modified":"2023-12-20T02:49:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T02:49:53","slug":"utah-democrats-launch-2024-initiative-to-counter-the-party-of-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/2023\/12\/19\/utah-democrats-launch-2024-initiative-to-counter-the-party-of-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Utah Democrats launch 2024 initiative to counter \u2018the party of Trump\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"Figure\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City.\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https:\/\/deseret.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/cbac0a4\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1684+0+316\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FcUQxVdJn1fVG69dRMWCIZfWNmKA%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2000%2F3000x2000%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28815x1336%3A816x1337%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F23346150%2Fmerlin_2916194.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\">\n<p>Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, speaks in opposition to overriding Gov. Spencer Cox\u2019s veto of HB11, which bans transgender girls from participating in female school sports, at the Capitol on March 25, 2022. King is challenging Cox in the 2024 gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><span class=\"line\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"Figure-credit\">\n<p>Spenser Heaps, Deseret News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The Utah Democratic Party announced its first statewide coordinated campaign since 2016 to pool resources and show a united front ahead of next year\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n<p>Officially launched on Tuesday, the party\u2019s \u201cOrganize Utah\u201d initiative promises \u201chistoric investments\u201d in typically Republican districts and record-level spending on voter education efforts in 2024. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c2024 is a crucial year for our party, and that\u2019s why I am so excited about the launch of Organize Utah,\u201d said Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis in a press release.&nbsp;\u201cWe believe that not only will our early planning and preparation lead to Democratic gains next November, but that we are also laying the groundwork for success in the years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have already fielded a high profile contender to challenge Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican. Former Utah House Minority Leader Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City,&nbsp;announced his gubernatorial campaign <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/12\/4\/23987652\/utah-democrat-brian-king-challenge-gov-spencer-cox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">earlier this month<\/a>. Utah Democrats will gather in April to select a nominee for the state\u2019s U.S. Senate election to replace Sen. Mitt Romney. <\/p>\n<p>Unlike a typical election year where county parties and candidates are largely responsible for mobilizing their own get-out-the-vote initiatives, 2024 will see the state Democratic Party taking the lead on boosting voter turnout. <\/p>\n<div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center>\n<div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related<\/div>\n<ul class=\"RelatedList-items\">\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/12\/4\/23987652\/utah-democrat-brian-king-challenge-gov-spencer-cox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah Rep. Brian King announces he will challenge Gov. Spencer Cox <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/9\/18\/23874041\/mitt-romney-senate-seat-robert-obrien-announces-his-decision\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Election tracker: The latest on who might run for Romney\u2019s Senate seat <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Outsourcing these responsibilities to the state organization enables more efficient use of fundraising resources and frees up county parties and candidates to focus on their particular campaign messages, according to the state party\u2019s communications director, Ben Anderson. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we can handle turning out the Democrats and making sure Democrats are motivated and inspired to get out to the polls and vote, then candidates will have a lot more opportunity to spend their time and their resources reaching those persuadable voters who can really make the difference,\u201d Anderson said in an interview with the Deseret News Tuesday morning. <\/p>\n<p>The state party apparatus plans to spend thousands of dollars next year on registering new voters in key areas and getting them to the polls at election time, Anderson said. The 2022 election cycle currently holds the record for the most money spent by the Utah Democratic Party on voter activation initiatives, he said, but they aim to exceed that number by 65% in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat will be the largest get out the vote effort that Democrats have seen in Utah, ever,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>And these unprecedented investments won\u2019t be limited to the state\u2019s handful of blue islands in Salt Lake County, according to Anderson. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of times in years past, the Democratic Party has honestly been just very focused on the Wasatch Front, and a few seats specifically in Salt Lake County. A lot of people have not felt in the past, like we have been a true statewide party,\u201d Anderson said. <\/p>\n<p>But Anderson said party officials hope 2024 will send a signal to candidates across the state, \u201cespecially in tough districts,\u201d that the party has their back, and will for years to come. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to be investing in areas where we know we might not win next year, but areas where we think we can win in four years, or six years or eight years,\u201d Anderson said. <\/p>\n<p>The impetus for the coordinated campaign came, at least in part, from the relative strength of <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/8\/29\/23831580\/kathleen-riebe-democrat-2nd-district\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">state Sen. Kathleen Riebe\u2019s congressional campaign<\/a>, which came to an end with a general election loss to Rep. Celeste Maloy in November. Anderson said Utah Democrats hope to keep the momentum from Riebe\u2019s race where she emphasized rural outreach, highlighted Democratic unity in contrast with Republican infighting and tried to frame her GOP opponent as extreme. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center>\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<figure class=\"Figure\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"merlin_3007715.jpg\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https:\/\/deseret.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/2e2f3ac\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3000x1684+0+158\/resize\/490x275!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FMz94izUH-vWOIqp4S6hXswIzTBg%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2000%2F3000x2000%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1000%3A1501x1001%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F25104094%2Fmerlin_3007715.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\">\n<p>Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, gives an interview on election night at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Nov. 21, 2023. Riebe ran against Republican Celeste Maloy in the special election to fill Chris Stewart\u2019s seat in the 2nd Congressional District.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><span class=\"line\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"Figure-credit\">\n<p>Spenser Heaps, Deseret News<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center>\n<div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related<\/div>\n<ul class=\"RelatedList-items\">\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/11\/21\/23968070\/utah-2nd-congressional-district-special-election-maloy-riebe-stewart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Celeste Maloy wins 2nd Congressional District race; Kathleen Riebe concedes <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/2023\/8\/29\/23831580\/kathleen-riebe-democrat-2nd-district\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kathleen Riebe, the \u2018moderate\u2019 Democrat who wants to turn the 2nd District blue <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Democratic candidates will have an opportunity to deliver a similar message in 2024, Anderson said, with former President Donald Trump as the likely GOP nominee and Utah gearing up for contentious Republican primaries for governor, U.S. Senate and possibly the 3rd Congressional District. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen since 2016, people in Utah really don\u2019t like Donald Trump and the Republican Party has every year become more and more of the party of Trump \u2014 and that\u2019s going all the way down the ballot. So I think that is definitely a reason why we see opportunities next year,\u201d Anderson said. <\/p>\n<p>While Utahns\u2019 support of Trump has been relatively lukewarm compared historical support for Republican presidential candidates, Democrats are unlikely to change the red state to purple or blue anytime soon. <\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Utah voters preferred Trump to President Joe Biden 58%-38%. And Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican, won reelection in 2022 53%-43% against independent challenger Evan McMullin.<\/p>\n<p>But Anderson says he sees trends showing residents of the Beehive State are looking for an alternative to Trump\u2019s brand of conservatism. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe believe Utahns are on our side where they agree with our message that we don\u2019t need more of Donald Trump\u2019s divisive, extreme policies and rhetoric,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cWe need common sense leaders and I think that\u2019s what our Democratic candidates are going to be offering next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"RelatedList Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center>\n<div class=\"RelatedList-title\">Related<\/div>\n<ul class=\"RelatedList-items\">\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/utah\/2022\/12\/3\/23486202\/utah-support-for-donald-trump-2024-election-ron-desantis-republican-party\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Are Utah voters ready to move on from Donald Trump? <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<li class=\"RelatedList-items-item\">\n                    <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/opinion\/2022\/12\/2\/23484606\/utah-republicans-dont-want-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opinion: Why many conservative Republicans in Utah don\u2019t want Trump <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, speaks in opposition to overriding Gov. Spencer Cox\u2019s veto of HB11, which bans transgender girls from participating in female school sports, at the Capitol on March 25, 2022. King is challenging Cox in the 2024 gubernatorial race. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News The Utah Democratic&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2219,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2218\/revisions\/2219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shinsori.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}