Utah Democrats nominate anti-Joe Biden candidate who will step aside for replacement
Utah Democrats made a surprising move on Saturday by nominating an anti-Joe Biden candidate for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, who has already pledged to step aside and allow the party to select a replacement for the November ballot. Brian Adams, the controversial nominee, faced criticism from various Democratic organizations for his views on the Jan. 6 rioters and President Biden’s policies.
Adams, who owns a renewable energy company and served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, has been vocal on social media about election security, immigration, and his support for Trump supporters involved in the Capitol riots. Despite calls from opponents to leave the spot on the ballot vacant, Adams confirmed that he would withdraw from the race if nominated.
The decision to nominate Adams sparked debate among delegates at the State Nominating Convention, with some pushing for written confirmation of his resignation before the nomination. However, party officials assured that Adams had committed to notifying the lieutenant governor’s office of his withdrawal.
In a surprising turn of events, Adams’ nomination was overshadowed by the nomination of Caroline Gleich for the U.S. Senate race. Gleich, a ski mountaineer and climate activist, became the third woman in Utah history to win a nomination from one of the two major parties. During her speech, she emphasized her commitment to addressing housing affordability, climate change, job creation, and reproductive rights.
The convention also saw Rudy Bautista nominated for attorney general, promising to defend individual freedoms and challenge unconstitutional laws. In contested races for state House seats, Hoang Nguyen and Claudia Bigler emerged as the party’s nominees, while King, Voutaz, and Hansen secured uncontested nominations for governor, state auditor, and treasurer, respectively.
As the convention came to a close, the crowd erupted in cheers as Glenn Wright, the uncontested nominee for the 3rd Congressional District, boldly declared, “Trump can kiss my a–.” The event showcased the diversity of views within the Democratic Party and set the stage for an interesting election season in Utah.