Happy 250th, USA!
Thoughts on Independence Day, plus a quick retrospective on the June primary election and a preview for the months to come.
Happy Independence Day! What a beautiful season to reflect on the blessings and privileges laid out 250 years ago:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”1
On our 250th anniversary, may we as Americans come ever closer to living out these truths.
You may have noticed that the Network of Utah Moderates took a bit of hiatus after the primary election. Whew.
The deadline for the election “canvass”—when results become official—is coming up this Tuesday. Candidates who won their primary will progress to the November general election, where some will face challengers from other parties on the ballot.
How did the election go?
After a few months of deliberation and discussion, a small group of Utahns launched this network at the beginning of June, the same week ballots went out. Throughout June, we published twenty-two voter guides before the end of the primary election. A giant thanks to all who contributed!
The results: Exactly two-thirds of the candidates we recommended won or are likely to win their races, a total of 14 candidates. The other seven we recommended did not progress past the primary.2
Quite honestly, this is a win. Many of us have been involved with and following local Utah politics for many years. Two-thirds is by far the highest percentage of decent, principled candidates we’ve seen win their primaries in recent years. Though we’re disappointed in the outcomes of some races, this is overall the most optimistic we’ve felt about Utah politics in years.
Notably: longtime Senate President Stuart Adams, arguably the most powerful politician in Utah, lost his bid to challenger Stephanie Hollist. Mr. Adams’ exit signals a major shake-up in Utah’s legislature. We’re hopeful that as a result, legislative priorities and practices change, prioritizing the needs of citizens and lessening the influence of major developers on state decision making.
As one friend messaged us after election night: “Is this… hope?”
We believe so. Our hope remains that by building a network of Utahns committed to finding principled, experienced, thoughtful leaders, we can influence races all over the state and our national politics as well.
What comes next?
The general election that ends November 3. And unlike the primary election, every eligible Utah voter (regardless of party affiliation) can vote this fall.
Our suggestion: take a breather before November. Like many voters, you may have gotten a deluge of texts, emails, and mailers right before June 23rd. It can be a lot!
When you’ve regrouped, here’s a few ideas::
It’s always a good time to check your voter registration and help a friend or new voter register to participate in November.
Learn about all the candidates for the general election (see candidate filings). In June we were focused on a select group of partisan primaries, but we know of great candidates who will appear in November, too! By starting early, you have the chance to make a difference in someone’s campaign. Read candidate websites, follow them on social media, and attend—or even host—a candidate event or cottage meeting.
Reach out to your candidates directly. Many candidates share their contact information widely, but voters seldom reach out. Consider being one of those few engaged citizens. Over the next few months, send candidates in your area an email, schedule a call, or meet them in person. Ask questions about their priorities, stances, experience, and governing philosophies. Most candidates appreciate thoughtful interactions with the people they hope to represent—and if not, you’ve learned valuable information.
Help out with a local campaign. If you find candidates you can really support, get involved. can be as small as sharing a social media post, hosting a yard sign, or making a donation (it can be small!) to help someone you want to win office represent you.
Meanwhile, we at the Network are gearing up to write candidate guides for the general election for as many races as we can. If you’re familiar with a race and inclined to help us, we’d love to have you help draft a guide (reach out at networkofutahmoderates@gmail.com).
We hope these voter guides have been—and continue to be—a useful resource in making informed decisions about Utah’s leadership.
Back to the 4th of July
Independence Day reminds us that America’s greatest strength has never been perfect agreement. It has been our willingness to come together, generation after generation, to preserve liberty and expand opportunity. The United States is at its best when ordinary people—neighbors, friends, and communities—choose to work together in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for all.
250 years is something to celebrate. The story of our country is still being written, and each of us has a role to play.
This Independence Day, may we recommit ourselves to hope, to engaged citizenship, and to the enduring belief that by working together, we can leave our communities , our state, and our country better than we found them.
Happy Fourth of July—and happy 250th birthday, USA!
We recommend reading the Declaration of Independence anew—the Constitution Center’s annotated version gives lots of context and details you may appreciate.
If that doesn’t quite add up to 22, it’s because we declined to endorse a candidate in CD1.