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SALT LAKE CITY — Like 15 other states, Utah Republicans will vote for a presidential nominee on Super Tuesday, March 5. Unlike most others, Utahns will not hold a primary election — instead, Utahns will cast votes in a "presidential preference poll" during caucus meetings.
The decision to hold caucuses is geared toward increasing civic engagement and participation within the party, its proponents argue. But a mass text sent to over 100,000 Utah Republicans — declaring that "Utah's primary election (was) canceled" — has caused massive backlash, including hundreds of angry emails and calls to Utah GOP Chair Rob Axson.
The text originated with Daryl Acumen, a former GOP vice chairman in Utah County, who owns the domain utahgop.org — a slight variation of the party's official website, utgop.org. Acumen sent a mass text to 161,895 registered Republicans throughout the state on Feb. 15, informing them that Utah would "NOT hold a Presidential Primary election."
"While your Democratic and Unaffiliated neighbors all received ballots in the mail this week for the 2024 Presidential Primary, YOU WILL NOT!!!" the text read.
It encouraged recipients to "express your concerns" by emailing Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Axson at "chair@utahgop.org" or calling 435-666-2024.
But those aren't Axson's real phone number or email. While the emails were automatically forwarded to Axson's official email, they first went to Acumen. He also set up a redirect to the phone number, too — so while he couldn't see what voicemails were left at the party office's phone, he could see the total number of calls that came in, he said.
Within a week of sending the text, Axson received over 600 emails and 400 phone calls, Acumen said.
According to hundreds of emails reviewed by the Deseret News, many Utah Republicans are frustrated by the party's decision to forgo a state-run primary, which could include options for vote-by-mail and early voting, in favor of in-person votes at hundreds of caucus sites throughout the state. The emails call the caucus system "confusing" and criticize the state party for "disenfranchising" voters.
Many of them expressed anger for ditching the primary system: "Who gave you the right to decide where and when people can vote or not?" one said. Others expressed disdain for caucuses: "They are mind-numbingly robotic repetition of the status quo. ... I can't attend because of work and immediate nausea upon arriving at these meetings." Several said they could not participate due to work, child care or other challenges: one "young Republican mother" said she worries "if we move away from mail-in voting people like me will continue to be disenfranchised"; another, a "busy, working mom," said "the caucus system inherently limits people from participating."
Several more threatened to change their party affiliation unless the GOP reverted to a primary. It is too late to switch party affiliation for the upcoming Super Tuesday.
Axson called Acumen's text a "stunt." He said he personally responded to each of the emails, while noting that many of their concerns — including fear of a "canceled" election — were misplaced. "(Acumen) sowed confusion," Axson said. "Of course you're going to get people who are confused when you tell people the Republican Party canceled the primary election."
The caucus, Axson said, provides opportunities for absentee balloting. By visiting utgop.org — not "utahgop.org," Acumen's domain — voters can register to vote and receive step-by-step instructions on how to vote absentee. Axson noted that when he requested Acumen implement a temporary redirect from his site to the party's official website, Acumen obliged.
Axson said the party has gone "above and beyond" to inform voters how and when to vote. He said the party has spent over $100,000 on advertising and messaging.
"We've absolutely been pushing out a ton of things," he said. "We have radio ads playing in every radio market in Utah. They'll be playing through Tuesday of next week. Digital ads, text message blasts, email blasts, printed ads — we're going above and beyond in regards to what the party has ever done in the past."
Voters who wish to participate in the presidential preference poll should visit utgop.org, fill out the registration form, and print out a paper ballot, which they can submit in three ways: send it with a member of their household on caucus night; send it with a neighbor who will attend the same precinct location; or deliver it in advance to the precinct chair or caucus host, whose contact information can be found on the party website.
That hasn't stopped voters from criticizing the caucus. Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert expressed disappointment with the decision to hold a caucus instead of a primary in 2016, and he's echoing those same critiques this year. "I do believe holding a primary presidential election is beneficial to Utah," he said recently. For the hyper-engaged voters — those who are running for office, who want to be delegates or participate in other party events — the caucus system works well. "But they're in the minority," Herbert said. "I think having a regular primary election is a better way to do it."
