Utah Democratic candidate denigrated Latter-day Saints, made crude comments in past posts

SALT LAKE CITY — Nate Blouin, the progressive Democrat candidate running in Utah's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, has a history of posting offensive posts on internet forums denigrating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and making crude jokes about women and sexual assault.

In a slate of comments posted more than a decade ago, Blouin described members of the church as "a bunch of bigoted (expletive)" with an "ideology fostering ignorance and intolerance." In another post, he wrote that the church was "DEFINITELY just a front for the largest US drug cartel."

In another, he declared members of the church to be the worst part about living in Utah because "they're quite oppressive and narrow minded."

Those comments, among others, were posted on different social media platforms such as Reddit, Teton Gravity Research forum, and other athletic-related forums. Punchbowl News was the first to report on the posts.

One post showed Blouin recalling a time he had a missionary visit his home, during which he said she had seen a pornographic image "right in the face when I opened the front door."

In other comments, Blouin appeared to make light of sexual assault when he responded to a Brigham Young University student who had been charged with sexual battery by writing: "good ol' mormon kid. had to let out the pent up sexual frustration somehow."

He also joked about filming underage porn, and used slurs and very crude language.

In another post he said he defecated in a church parking lot.

The posts could have a deeply negative effect on Blouin's campaign, who is running in a district where the church's headquarters are located and there is a sizable population of members living there.

Blouin acknowledged the posts he made in a statement, telling the Deseret News there is "no excuse" and that his comments were "vulgar, stupid, and reflect a version of me in my early twenties that I'm ashamed of and have thankfully evolved past."

"When a reporter sent me these posts, I was horrified to see my use of language toward women and about a faith that my family, friends, and millions of Utahns practice," he said. "I won't minimize what I wrote, and I believe every candidate forced to look at their old online activity should take full accountability for the person they once were behind their computer screen. To the people I hurt with my words, I sincerely apologize."

Blouin added: "All I can say is I've spent the past decade of my life trying to become someone worth trusting — as a neighbor, as an advocate, and now as a public servant — to fight for working families, for health care, for the dignity of every person in this district. I will keep showing up every day as the person I've worked to become. That is my promise to you."

The surfaced posts come just 10 days before the Utah Democratic Party hosts its nominating convention as Blouin vies for the 1st District seat.

Blouin will face his first test during the party's nominating convention on April 24-25 where he'll face other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination including former congressman Ben McAdams, Eva Lopez Chavez, Liban Mohamed, and Michael Farrell.

Blouin has already qualified for the June primary ballot after gathering the required signatures. McAdams has also qualified through the signature-gathering route.

Local lawmakers respond to Blouin's comments

Utah Democrats in the state Legislature denounced his comments in a joint statement, including a number of those in the state Senate who currently serve with Blouin.

"These comments are beyond unacceptable. We condemn them and any attempt to minimize their impact," they wrote. "There are no excuses for so-called jokes that target people's identity or beliefs, or that make light of or appear to endorse sexual assault. ... There is no room in public service for language that demeans, excuses, or trivializes harm."

The statement was signed by state Senate Democratic leaders Luz Escamilla, Karen Kwan, Jen Plumb, Kathleen Riebe, and state Sen. Stephanie Pitcher. It was also signed by House Minority Leader Angela Romero, Minority Whip Jen Dailey-Provost, and Minority Caucus Manager Doug Owens.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson also weighed in Wednesday, stating that Blouin should not seek election.

"I was appalled to learn of the past social media statements and actions of Sen. Nate Blouin. I appreciate his apology and hope it reflects genuine growth. However, even with that acknowledgment, I do not believe he should continue to serve in public office or seek election to Congress. Public service requires judgment and conduct that meet a high standard, and in my view, his past actions fall short of that expectation," Wilson said in a release to media.

But some local Democrats who previously endorsed Blouin said they stood behind his candidacy.

"Nate took accountability for posts he made when he was 20 & apologized without making excuses," Salt Lake County Councilmember Natalie Pinkney said in a statement. "That tells you everything about how much he has grown in 17 years. I know who Nate is today & he is someone who will fight for our reproductive rights when so many others are hedging."

The church declined to comment on the matter.

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