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SALT LAKE CITY — No third-party candidates will take the stage with Democrats and Republicans this fall in political debates put on by the Utah Debate Commission.
None of those running for Congress, governor or attorney general in Utah met the 10 percent threshold for participation based on polling that the commission conducted Aug. 2 to Sept. 3.
But with a 4.38 percent margin of error, candidates who achieved 5.62 percent in the survey in their race qualified to debate. Still, only GOP and Democratic hopefuls made the cut.
"Have you heard the term unprintable?" said Libertarian attorney general candidate Andrew McCullough when asked about not being allowed to participate. "I feel squelched."
McCullough came in at 4.5 percent, one of the better showings among minor party candidates.
The poll, conducted by Riverton-based Lighthouse Research, found Republican incumbents running for re-election in Utah's four U.S. House seats, U.S. Senate, governor and attorney general leading Democratic challengers by wide margins, though a fair amount of voters were undecided in each race.
"We love third-party candidates. We think they make a wonderful addition, but it's the general public that hasn't embraced third-party candidates," said Scott Howell, debate commission co-chairman.
He said the debate commission tried hard to be fair and conducted the poll in August to give candidates most of the summer to campaign and build name recognition. Voters, he said, are better served hearing from candidates who work hard on their campaigns as opposed to those who file to run as a way to deliver a message.
The commission has scheduled debates in seven races, starting Sept. 21 with the candidates for attorney general.
Howell said the commission was surprised McCullough didn't qualify based on how he has fared in other polls.
Attorney General Sean Reyes leads the race with 45.2 percent followed by Democrat Jon Harper at 17.3 percent, McCullough and Independent American candidate Michael Isbell with 3.9 percent, according to the Lighthouse survey. Twenty-nine percent were undecided.
Survey respondents were randomly selected from a list of Utah's registered voters, according to the debate commission.
"If in fact everybody's undecided, why don't you let them hear our voice?" McCullough asked. "I have a valid point of view and I have something to say."
Harper said the results simply reflect a lack of name recognition in the campaign so far.
"As voters become familiar with me, they will realize that my service will be a capstone to a successful 37-year legal career, not a stepping stone to higher office. Voters are ready to have a lawyer in the position of attorney general, not another career politician," he said in a statement.
Howell, a former Democratic state senator, called the attorney general's race an "open book of opportunity" given the high number of voters who haven't made up their minds.
The Lighthouse poll shows incumbent Republicans well ahead of any challengers.
Gov. Gary Herbert leads Democrat Michael Weinholtz 65.2 percent to 16.5 percent, with Libertarian Brian Kamerath at 3.3 percent, Independent American Dell Schanze at 2.1 percent and write-in candidate L.S. Brown at 0.6 percent. The survey shows 12.3 percent undecided.
In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has 52.8 percent to Democrat Misty Snow's 17.4 percent, followed by unaffiliated candidate Bill Barron with 4.6 percent and Independent American Stoney Fonua with 3 percent. Another 22.2 percent are undecided.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, leads Democrat Peter Clemens in the 1st Congressional District 59.6 percent to 13.9 percent, with Libertarian Craig Bowden at 4.5 percent, unaffiliated candidate Chadwick Fairbanks III at 2.2 percent and 19.8 percent undecided.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, has 49 percent to Democrat Charlene Albarran's 20.4 percent and Constitution Party candidate Paul McCollaum Jr.'s 4.6 percent; 26 percent are undecided.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is up on Democrat Stephen Tryon 64.2 percent to 21.7 percent, with 14 percent undecided in the 3rd Congressional District.
In the 4th Congressional District, Rep. Mia Love has a 49.3 percent to 30.4 percent lead over Democrat Doug Owens. Constitution Party candidate Collin Simonsen has 2.8 percent and 17.5 percent are undecided.
