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SALT LAKE CITY — This Saturday, almost 7,000 Republican and Democratic state party delegates will meet to nominate candidates in key races including U.S. Senate, Congress and governor.
To better understand the work delegates do, the Deseret News and KSL-TV assembled a panel of eight men and women representing a range of political views, ages and backgrounds. Five are first-time delegates.
They come from all four congressional districts and five counties along the Wasatch Front. They gathered recently at the KSL studios to talk about their experiences and share their opinions on the candidates.
Related:
Blog: Utah delegates and the 2012 election cycle
The 2012 election cycle is in full swing for many candidates. The following is a blog of some of Utah's delegates describing their experiences and thoughts.The purpose of the delegate panel is to give readers and viewers insight into a process that's been criticized for limiting voter participation. Most voters won't have a say in choosing party nominees, unless there is a primary election.
This election year, polls show that delegates are more moderate, with most being elected for the first time. Many responded to a call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in the March party caucus meetings, where delegates were selected.
Others were recruited by candidates, especially Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who faces a tough intraparty challenge from former state lawmaker Dan Liljenquist in his bid for a seventh term.
The rancor from just two years ago, when delegates ousted longtime Sen. Bob Bennett at the GOP state convention, appears to have dissipated. Now, incumbents like Republican Gov. Gary Herbert are seen as having more support.
