Forward Party Statement in Response to Senate Bill 194

01/28/2026 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

--

Click to View Report - Who Participates in Midterm Replacements?

--

The Forward Party represents the growing coalition of political independents and third-party voters who are routinely excluded from meaningful participation in government. Today, independents and third-party affiliates make up more than 36% of Utah’s registered voters.

As a party for independents, we avoid taking positions on specific legislation whenever possible. Those decisions should belong to voters and legislators, not party leadership. However, we will speak clearly on election reform—especially when legislation is used to entrench power rather than strengthen democracy. In Utah, the disconnect is stark: roughly 50% of voters are registered Republicans, yet nearly 80% of state legislators are Republican.

Senate Bill 194, sponsored by Sen. Michael McKell and heard today in Government Operations, is a sweeping omnibus bill that makes multiple, troubling changes to Utah’s election code. Among other provisions, it reduces voter privacy, introduces new barriers framed around citizenship, and—most concerning to the Forward Party—changes the rules for midterm legislative replacements in a way that further consolidates power within the GOP supermajority.

Sen. McKell recently stated as a justification for the bill, “That was a seat voted for by Republicans. And that’s just common sense. I just think it’s a matter of fairness.”

Fair to whom?

If “fairness” means fairness to party delegates and leadership, then the bill succeeds. Utah’s GOP benefits; just as we think it will benefit the Forward Party when some portion of our 26 candidates in 2026 win their races. Party loyalties will be demanded. But the responsibility of the Legislature—and this committee—is fairness to voters, not parties. Utahns elect individuals to represent their districts, they do not elect parties.

Locking a midterm replacement to the party affiliation of a legislator at the time they were first elected does nothing to reduce partisan influence. It is a reactionary change that punishes independence and disregards voter intent.

This approach appears to reflect a broader anxiety within the Republican Party nationwide: that the party—now increasingly shaped by national politics—no longer reflects its traditional commitment to conservatism and individual liberty, and that as it moves toward “ends-justify-the-means” decision-making, more elected officials may choose to leave. Rather than address that concern through persuasion or reform, this policy attempts to prevent defection by tightening procedural control.

Notably, 25 of 50 states fill legislative vacancies through open elections, allowing voters—not party insiders—to choose the replacement. That is fairness. This proposal is not.

The Forward Party will not support SB 194 as written. We believe Utah should adopt open midterm elections for state legislative vacancies, just as they occur for federal offices.

In the replacement process that led to the appointment of Sen. Emily Buss, the Forward Party intentionally ceded party control and opened the process to all voters. Republicans, Democrats, independents—anyone—could participate. This process was fully transparent and publicly documented at 11chooses.com.

The results speak for themselves:

• 1,301 voters participated, five times the turnout of the most recent GOP-controlled replacement
• The electorate closely matched District 11’s actual party composition
• 696 voters (53.5%) were Republicans, exceeding the district’s Republican registration share
• Republican participation was 2.5× higher than in the Brammer replacement and 5.4× higher than in the Balderree replacement

So we ask again: fair to whom?

If this policy were debated openly—rather than buried in a complex omnibus bill—would Utah voters, including most Republicans, truly support it?

We urge members of the Utah Legislature to vote NO on Senate Bill 194 and to stand for election systems that expand participation, transparency, and trust.

References

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0194.html
https://www.11chooses.com/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vrB7Y5mpou629-dQPJsVP3kclq63ciQ/view?usp=drive_link

--

If you're reading this, Utah needs you.

We're often asked, "What does it take to run for office?" If:

• You care about your community
• You believe that politics is broken, but fixable
• You meet the legal requirements to hold office
• You are willing to do the work

Then you can run for office — and if it's a partisan position, you should run with Forward.

We want to help you succeed.

It might sound hyperbolic or hard to believe, but look around and consider the situation: there has never been a better time to run outside the two-party system than now, in this moment, here in Utah.

Utahns are overwhelmingly supportive of the idea of building a viable third party committed to values. We're making the news with our innovative approach, so the press has become interested. In Utah, there's a new State Senator already representing us at the Capitol and a strong core of activated, experienced volunteers. Nationally, we have a recognizable brand and notable leaders.

The stage has been set.

Since our party is built on values, not a platform, you can bring your own ideas with you, exactly as they are, and nobody will tell you that you need to change them.

Our plan makes a lot of sense. This moment in history is ripe for change. We only need more risk-takers to join our ranks, and the whole thing will fall neatly into place.

In 2026, the bold will be rewarded.

What it Takes to Run with Forward

Four Simple Steps

Step 1: Choose the race you want to run

Forward candidates run in partisan races, which take place in even-numbered election years. In Utah, 2026 is a major partisan election year. Forward candidates may run in the following races:

• Utah State House
• Utah State Senate
• Utah State Board of Education
• U.S. House of Representatives
• County-level Offices (County Council, Mayor, Clerk, Sheriff, and others)

Note that Forward does not run candidates in nonpartisan races (such as most city council, school board, or judicial elections). If a race does not list party affiliation on the ballot, it's considered nonpartisan and usually occurs in odd-numbered years.

Step 2: Affiliate with the Forward Party

You can't run with us unless you're a registered member of the party! Go to vote.utah.gov to confirm you're registered with the Forward Party. It only takes a moment.

If you were a member of the Utah Forward Party before April 2025, when our party merged with the United Utah Party (UUP), then your registration was changed to Unaffiliated by the State, and you MUST update your party registration to Forward. If you were a member of the UUP before the merger, your affiliation should now be listed as the Forward Party of Utah...but we still recommend you check!

Step 3: File to run in person between January 2 and January 8, 2026

The filing deadline in Utah is early. Problematically early. If you're still on the fence about running, we recommend you go ahead and file (you can always withdraw later).

Don't let the early filing deadline stop you.

To file, you must:

• File in-person at either the Lieutenant Governor's Office at the State Capitol, or at your local County Clerk's office.
• Verify that you meet the legal requirements to run for office
• Pay a filing fee that varies based on the office ($50 + 1% of the salary for the term). In 2026, it's:
  • $83.86 for Utah State House
  • $117.73 for Utah State Senate
  • $89.69 for Utah State Board of Education
  • $485.00 for U.S. House of Representatives
  • Varies by County office

Step 4: Let us know so we can support you

Let us know of your intention to run, so we can start the requisite background checks, have you sign our candidate values pledge, and so we know how to contact you to help you with your campaign. Send an email to [email protected] and we'll be in touch as soon as possible!

You'll work with us as the state party, but we also recommend you review the national page for candidate testimonials, FAQs, and a link to the Candidate Pledge.

Do I need to collect signatures?

No! Compared to running as an independent, this is a big advantage. The Forward Party of Utah is a Qualified Political Party, which means a candidate can seek its party's nomination at convention (in April), then pass directly onto the General Election.

Helpful Resources

https://ballotpedia.org/How_to_run_for_office_in_Utah
https://ltgovernor.utah.gov/
https://vote.utah.gov/resources-for-candidates-political-groups-parties/
https://vote.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Partisan-Legislative-Declaration-of-Candidacy-2.pdf
https://vote.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Candidate-Manual.pdf
https://disclosures.utah.gov/

12/4/2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The Forward Party of Utah announces that the online preference poll to fill the midterm vacancy of the departing senator, Daniel Thatcher (District 11), is now open. The digital ballots can be accessed immediately after voters receive their mailed personal codes, which are expected to arrive at most households by Friday. Voting will remain open until Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 9:00pm. Additional information can be found by visiting 11chooses.com. 

This is thought to be the largest primarily digital vote to select a political officeholder in U.S. history. In the U.S., digital voting has previously been used for overseas service members, but never as the primary voting mechanism.

For voters who lose or never receive their code, alternative digital authorization mechanisms will be provided. District members can also choose to cast their ballots at in-person polling locations next week. Once cast, voters can track and verify their results.

Candidate Forum

Tonight, Thursday 12/4 at 6:30pm, the League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum for the candidates at Hunter Library in West Valley City. Links to the livestream can be found at 11chooses.com. The candidates are:

• Tynley Bean
• Maleah Bliss
• Emily Buss
• Jeff Marshall
• Jeff Saunders

Other Unique Elements

This is believed to include several first-of-their-kind reforms to how political parties conduct their candidate selection processes:

This is the first time in U.S. history that a political party has willingly expanded the voting pool beyond its party membership for a midterm replacement election. In Utah, 25% of all state legislators first gain office through a midterm replacement, a process in which only a handful of party delegates are allowed to participate.

This is the first use of Approval Voting for a state-level position (municipal elections in Fargo, ND and St. Louis, MO have occurred since 2020). Approval Voting is an alternative voting method that allows voters to select more than one candidate on the ballot.

Senator Thatcher, as well as the candidate who will replace him, is currently the only state legislator exclusively affiliated with a third party in the United States. (This statement excludes independent/unaffiliated officeholders, and some officeholders in Vermont, which permits cross-endorsements with the Democratic Party through a “fusion-ticket” system.)

The Forward Party is hosting all candidate informational materials at 11chooses.com, including professional video statements, which were provided at no cost to the candidates. This allowed the candidates to agree to a $300 maximum budget for campaigning.

Quotes

From Michelle Quist, Party Chair:

“Utahns see what’s happening with the battle over congressional redistricting - they see how those in power can bend the rules to their own advantage. Well, we’re putting power back into the hands of voters. I have every confidence that the candidate chosen will serve admirably, because that person will be free to legislate the same way Senator Thatcher always has: by listening to residents, not party bosses.”

From Phil Boileau, spokesperson for the Forward Party:

“It’s hard to break through the noise of Federal politics. And we know some people view third parties skeptically, if they hear about them at all. Nonetheless, the Forward Party has made it our mission to reinvigorate the foundations of the democratic process. 60% of Americans say they want a new political party. This is what it looks like to build that party.

–

Visit 11chooses.com for more information.

A “test” ballot can be provided to members of the press upon request.

Visit utahforwardparty.org for previous press releases on this subject.

11/19/2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

The Forward Party of Utah today announced the five candidates who have qualified for the Senate District 11 midterm replacement ballot. The candidates are:

• Tynley Bean, Erda
• Maleah Bliss, Kearns
• Emily Buss, Eagle Mountain
• Jeff Marshall, Magna
• Jeff Saunders, Tooele

Complete candidate profiles including personal timelines, responses to Forward Party Utah priorities, a personal essay, a proposed piece of legislation, and a recorded video statement have all been published side-by-side at 11chooses.com.

Quote

Michelle Quist, Chair of the Forward Party of Utah, made the following statement:

We're thrilled to move into the next phase of the SD11 full-district replacement process with our five candidates. All registered voters in the district will now have the opportunity to participate in this unprecedented effort to replace Senator Thatcher. We believe this process is better for Utahns because it encourages participation, strengthens democracy, and returns choice to the people. We hope every registered voter in SD11 reviews the candidates at 11chooses.com in preparation for their vote.

About the SD11 Replacement Process

This midterm replacement process is open to all registered voters residing in Senate District 11, regardless of party affiliation. Voting will take place using Approval Voting through a secure online system.

Voter identity verification may be completed through multiple options that meet or exceed the standards for voter security. Most voters will likely choose to use a unique voter code received via postal mail. Other options include: Optional passport chip scanning (NFC), and SMS-based phone matching. Voters can also choose to vote in-person at designated polling locations throughout the district.

Upcoming Schedule

• Thursday, December 4 - Candidate forum open to the public and available online, hosted by the League of Women Voters
• Friday, December 5 - Mailed codes delivered; online voting opens
• Tuesday, December 9 - Half-day in-person voting open in Tooele
• Wednesday, December 10 - Half-day in-person voting open in Eagle Mountain
• Thursday, December 11 - Last day to vote; four in-person locations to vote throughout the district.
• Friday, December 12 - Vote is tallied and reported publicly; name of appointee will be submitted to Governor’s office for official appointment

Additional Background

Visit 11chooses.com for more information.

Previous Press Release #1 utahforwardparty.org/open_process_20251022.

Previous Press Release #2 utahforwardparty.org/press_release_approvalsiv.

The vote will demonstrate a new model for open, verifiable, voter-driven democracy in Utah

11/11/2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Forward Party of Utah announced today that it will use Approval Voting and a secure online ballot administered by Secure Internet Voting (SIV) to conduct the replacement vote for Senator Daniel Thatcher, following the announcement of his upcoming retirement from the Utah State Senate.

All registered voters residing in Senate District 11, regardless of party affiliation, will be eligible to participate in this first-of-its-kind open election.

Approval Voting

Approval Voting allows voters to select (“approve”) any and all candidates they support. The candidate with the most approvals wins.

• Unlike Plurality or “First-Past-the-Post” voting, where voters may only choose one candidate and risk splitting the vote, Approval Voting lets voters back more than one candidate.
• Unlike Ranked-Choice Voting, which asks voters to order candidates by preference and involves multi-round tabulations, Approval Voting offers a simple yes/no choice for each candidate. Advocates say this produces clear results that reflect the broadest consensus of the electorate.

Approval Voting is already proven successful in St. Louis, MO where it has been used for municipal races since 2021. The Center for Election Science is the national nonpartisan institution driving the research and advocacy for this reform.

Senator Thatcher has been a long-time advocate of Approval voting:

“This vote being conducted by the Forward Party has the best chance of bringing accountability back to the very people who should decide elections: the citizens of the district. It is my duty to them, over party power, that led me to the Forward Party. The Forward Party is rewarding my trust with the respect they are showing to my constituents.

“Approval Voting is the best voting method I have seen in years of searching for a better way to truly get to the heart of representation. It’s simple, easy to administer, and whoever gets the most votes wins. So does the public.”

Forward Utah believes this experiment with Approval Voting will provide additional data to help contrast and contextualize the outcomes of Utah’s municipal Ranked-Choice Voting pilot program, which expires this year.

Secure Internet Voting (SIV)

The voting process will be administered by Secure Internet Voting (siv.org), a US-based provider of secure, independently verifiable online elections. SIV acts as the National Forward Party’s preferred voting platform, and has already run several other successful votes throughout the U.S., including a special congressional primary in Utah. 

Citing the importance of building credibility among election security experts as their top priority, SIV has been openly tested in cybersecurity and academic settings. It provides an easy-to-use interface while allowing every voter to confirm that their ballot was recorded and counted accurately.

The vote is scheduled to take place over several days in the second week of December. All registered voters in the district will receive a mailer with instructions on how to participate. Community members are encouraged to visit 11chooses.com  to stay informed as additional details about the process become available.

Impact

Phil Boileau, spokesperson for the Forward Party of Utah, offers this quote:

“The Forward Party hopes to deliver to the people of District 11 a senator who truly represents them. Someone whose ideas aren’t bound by the confines of a restrictive two-party system or the same old toxic ‘us vs. them’ mentality that stifles our ability to do the work of government. We’re trying an election mechanism to match.

“We’re also leaning into the national implications of this experiment in election reform. We look forward to working with SIV, The Center for Election Science and a coalition of election reform advocacy groups to develop research and a replicable model based on the example we’re setting here in Utah that election officials across the country can implement.”

–

Visit 11chooses.com for more information.

Visit utahforwardparty.org/open_process_20251022 for the original press release.

Last week we invited Utah’s mayoral candidates to sign the Forward Party Pledge. This pledge is nonpartisan in nature. It signals a public commitment to campaign and serve in a manner that is consistent with key values that we hold dear at the Forward Party, like:

• Treat Everyone with Respect and Dignity
• Act with Ethics, Integrity, and Compassion
• Strengthen Democracy to Elevate the Voters’ Voice

Municipal elections are nonpartisan, so the Forward Party does not endorse or directly support municipal candidates. These pledges show which local leaders are committed to good governance at the community level.

Forward Party of Utah Announces Open Process to Select Replacement for Senator Daniel Thatcher

The unprecedented process invites all District 11 voters to participate or apply; challenges existing delegate-only midterm replacement process

10/22/2025 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Phil Boileau | (313) 231-7968 | [email protected]

WHAT:

Salt Lake City, UT — Following the announcement of Senator Daniel Thatcher’s intention to resign prior to the 2026 general legislative session, the Forward Party of Utah is today unveiling a groundbreaking plan to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Senate District 11 seat through an open, voter-inclusive selection process, a first in Utah’s history. 

All those interested in learning more are strongly encouraged to visit 11chooses.com for comprehensive details and instructions for participation.

CONTEXT:

Michelle Quist, Chair of the Forward Party of Utah, put the issue in perspective:

“Roughly one in four Utah legislators currently serving first assumed office through a closed-door, delegate-only special replacement process, where less than one percent of the voters in the district participate. Once appointed to office, these lawmakers enjoy a 97% incumbency reelection rate. 

Combine that with a closed primary system and ongoing efforts to ignore the will of the people by overturning Proposition 4, and a pattern emerges: Utah’s Republican supermajority has built a system designed to elect their political elite, and then protect them at all costs.

The Forward Party is doing things differently. The unprecedented process we’re launching today gives the people of District 11, all of them, the power to decide who represents them. Parties don’t own these seats. People do.”

Senator Daniel Thatcher’s statement is as follows:

“I was first elected to the Utah State Senate at the age of 32, in a district that nobody thought would vote for a conservative. I won by listening and respecting voters from all parties. I have now served more than half my adult life. I am rightfully proud of the work I’ve done, the friends I’ve made, the votes I’ve cast, and for always keeping my word, no matter the cost or difficulty. 

My first obligation is not to any political party, but rather to my constituents. To give them the best outcome, I am announcing my intention to resign prior to the next general legislative session. In accordance with state law, the Forward Party and I will take this opportunity to carry out a first-of-its-kind, open and honest replacement process.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve in the State Senate. I will continue to serve to the best of my ability as this process unfolds. A better process, that respects all voters, and restores the representation necessary for a functional republic. Time to move FORWARD.”

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS:

Utah’s election code §20A-1-503 states that midterm vacancies are to be filled by the political party of the departing legislator, and gives leeway for the party to define its own replacement process.

A detailed overview, outline, and link to the Declaration of Intent form can all be found at 11chooses.com. Later, as the finalized list of candidates becomes available, the same site will act as the primary source of information for voters in the district who wish to participate.

Key takeaways are summarized as follows:

• • Applicants
    • Applications Open Now: Eligible residents of Utah Senate District 11 may apply to fill Senator Daniel Thatcher’s seat by submitting a Declaration of Intent no later than Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
    • Applicant Affiliation with the Forward Party of Utah: In addition to meeting all legal standards for Senate service in District 11, applicants must change their party affiliation to the Forward Party of Utah no later than November 11. Applicants of all current party affiliations are welcome.
    • Candidate Commitments: Applicants must sign the Forward Party Candidate Pledge, commit to running for reelection in 2026 on the Forward ticket, submit to a background check, and complete the “Candidate Application Packet” containing the materials voters will later use to review and compare finalists.
    • Transparent Selection: In order to keep the ballot simple and turnout high, if more than five candidates apply, the Forward Party may need to facilitate a paring down process to narrow the field to no more than five finalists.
  • Approach to Campaigning
    • Equal-Access Campaigning provided by Forward: All finalists will receive equal exposure through Forward-hosted channels including publication of materials and a moderated online debate, held a week before polls open.
    • Prohibited Activities: Details are still being finalized, but the following rules of thumb will apply to all candidates: Spending significant sums of money to gain a competitive advantage, or any smear campaigns that violate the spirit of the Candidate Pledge, will be grounds for disqualification.
  • Preference Poll
    • Participation: All eligible voters residing in Senate District 11 will be invited to participate regardless of party affiliation. This is intended to be a reflection of an open primary election system.
    • Innovation in Election Reform: The process will also serve as a testing ground for secure digital voting technology expected to cost less than half of Utah’s current vote-by-mail system. This will be combined with an alternative voting method that will allow voters to express support for more than one candidate.
      • This process is therefore expected to garner national interest among election clerks and reform advocates as a test case.

• Proposed Timeline (subject to change)

• • 10/22 - Announcement made; application opens
  • 11/11 - Deadline to submit applicant Declaration of Intent
  • 11/15 - Application packet deadline
  • 11/18 - Candidate finalists publicly announced
  • 12/2 - Moderated online debate, hosted by Forward
  • 12/8 - Online voting system is opened
  • 12/11 - Online voting system closes
  • 12/12 - Winner is announced by the Forward Utah Executive Committee

As this process is unprecedented, the Forward Party reserves the right to alter any of the above details as it sees fit based on changing needs and feedback from the community. The Forward Party therefore makes a commitment to optimal transparency; if changes are made, detailed reasons will be provided.

Qualified members of the press will be granted reasonable access to observe and report on this process. All questions from journalists and applicants will be answered openly, consistent with the Party’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES FROM NATIONAL FORWARD PARTY REPRESENTATIVES:

Andrew Yang, Forward Party Founding Co-Chair: 

“I find this so exciting. What a novel way to ensure people have a part in choosing their elected leaders. I applaud the Forward Party of Utah for embodying the spirit of Forward and democracy to give a voice to voters in what is, to my knowledge, a never-before-seen way of filling a legislative vacancy.”

Governor Christine Todd-Whitman, Forward Party Founding Co-chair: 

“Filling a vacant seat through a vote, not an appointment, is the right way because it fosters fairness and accountability. It’s great to see Utah voters getting the power they deserve to decide who speaks for them.”

Lindsey Drath, CEO of the Forward Party: 

“The Forward Party is striving for real democracy reform and working to ensure voters, not politicians and party leaders, are the ones who have the final say. When leaders are chosen in back rooms, trust in government erodes. Utah has the chance to do it right. Let the people pick their next Senator at the ballot box. It’s a refreshing and exciting way to fill a vacancy, and it’s the kind of change we need more of across American politics.

Over the last few weeks, we invited hundreds of Utah’s city council candidates to sign the Forward Party Pledge. This pledge is nonpartisan in nature. It signals a public commitment to campaign and serve in a manner that is consistent with key values that we hold dear at the Forward Party, like:

• Treat Everyone with Respect and Dignity
• Act with Ethics, Integrity, and Compassion
• Strengthen Democracy to Elevate the Voters’ Voice

Municipal elections are nonpartisan, so the Forward Party does not endorse or directly support municipal candidates. These pledges show which local leaders are committed to good governance at the community level.

Next week, we’ll share the list of mayoral candidates who took the pledge.

This fall, in Utah, there'll be a lot of people talking about maps.

On September 17th, Senator Daniel Thatcher (District 11, Forward Party of Utah) submitted for public review a map of his authorship that he feels complies with requirements set forth in Federal and State law, and recently affirmed in Judge Gibson’s ruling. In a media appearance, he outlined why he believes the map is balanced, non-partisan, and simple.

While Forward Utah is not endorsing a specific map, we support Senator Thatcher in his efforts. Here's why: 

The Forward Party of Utah does not prescribe specific platform solutions. Instead, we identify Priorities, and expect our candidates and elected officials to present their own plans for how to address those priorities. We also organize open discussions around those priorities.

Interested in joining the conversation? Read on:

[Note that as of 10/1 the email listed below will no longer be monitored. If there is broader interest in continuing the conversation after these developments, we will work to provide another forum for engagement. In the meantime, you are welcome to join the discussion on our Facebook Group Page or Discord Channel.]

Senator Thatcher's Map

Click here for the Shape Files
Click here for the KMZ File

The State Legislature also provides an online resource for the public to review and make their own districting maps.

1. Visit https: https://redistricting.utah.gov/maps/, click "Draw and Submit Maps"
2. Create or log into your account
3. To find Sen. Thatcher's map, click "Open." The map name is Congress published by DanielWThatcher

Senator Thatcher's Explanation (Full Video)

The Forward Party of Utah makes available for public review a copy of it's constitution & bylaws, including the mechanisms for changes:

• Forward Party of Utah Constitution
• Forward Party of Utah Bylaws
• Forward Party of Utah Affiliation Agreement with the National Forward Party

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

--

New Amendments and Resolutions effective for 2026

On Monday, March 23, 2026, the State Central Committee voted to pass the following amendment - Amendment 26A - Non-Member Participation

Functionally, this amendment now permits some non-party members to participate as voters at convention.  The elected central committee will decide who can and cannot participate prior to every voting convention.

Effectively for the 2026 State and County conventions, the following resolutions were passed:

• 2026-004 states that registered voters who are unaffiliated with any political party may participate in votes related to the nomination of Forward Party candidates for public office.
• 2026-005 states that registered voters who are unaffiliated with any political party may participate in votes related to the nomination of Forward Party candidates for public office.
• 2026-006 states that if a candidate receives 0 votes at convention, the result will be the same as "No Candidate at this Time"

In other words...

if you are an unaffiliated voter in Utah, you can now participate at our Conventions the same as registered party members.

Sen. Thatcher, Michelle Quist, and Gov. Christine Todd Whitman delivered impassioned speeches to a crowd of supporters

4/26/2025

Today at the combined convention of the United Utah Party (UUP), and the Utah Forward Party (FWD), which took place at Salt Lake Community College, both parties agreed to accept the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stipulating the details of a formal merger of the two parties, which will take place over the next several months.

The newly merged party is coordinating with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to facilitate the merger, which is unprecedented in Utah, and for which no current legal code exists.

Both parties voted as independent entities before combining for a joint session which featured speeches by newly-elected Chair Michelle Quist, State Senator Daniel Thatcher (SD 11), and Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor of New Jersey and Administrator of the EPA under President Geroge W. Bush, who founded the Forward Party alongside Andrew Yang in 2021.

In addition to the merger vote, both parties participated in the voting for 2025 State Priorities. Read more about the Forward Party’s approach to priorities here: https://www.utahforwardparty.org/priorities.

Below content includes:
Links to unedited videos of speeches by all Principals listed above
Excerpts of speeches delivered by Sen. Thatcher and Michelle Quist
Quotes by National Party leaders Whitman and Andrew Yang

–

Video Links

Links to speeches by Whitman, Thatcher, and Quist can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbq43souze43MDNEd8aKKvy-ixQSuSqf7

Speech Excerpts and Quotes

Excerpts from the speeches by Thatcher and Quist follow:

Daniel Thatcher

Since the announcement of my affiliation with the Forward Party in March, many have questioned why I would change my principles. Let me be clear, my principles have never changed. I remain solidly fixed upon Constitutional rights, reason, and respectful dialog even in disagreement.

Because I believe that the GOP has ceased to uphold the rule of law, the Constitution, and its own platform, they are no longer entitled to my support. My commitment is not to a party, or any specific individual. My commitment is to principles.

Parties and individuals are transitory. Even policy can and must change as new data and new evidence emerges. Like the North Star, principles are immutable and the only way to be certain of your course.

I have found a party that is committed to my core principles, the inalienable rights of all, that reason should guide policy, and that respect and decency are non-negotiable. I'm done being mired in the crazy making. I'm moving forward.

The Forward Party is different than anything you've seen before. Other parties choose their policy positions based on rhetoric not reason. The Forward Party, by contrast, chooses priorities without a predetermined solution in mind, allowing data and reason to arrive at the optimal policy.

I value the insight, experience, and opinions of others which is why I don’t want to fight Republicans or Democrats; I want to fight ignorance and contempt. I am proud to be part of the Forward Party, and I know for a fact, that I’m not alone.

I’ve known Michelle Quist for almost 15 years. Michelle is principled, absolutely brilliant, and she has the moral fortitude to keep building this party and change the course of politics in Utah. I'm excited to support her because I believe in what we can accomplish under her leadership.

Michelle Quist

The governor recently said politics can sometimes be a blood sport. But our lives cannot be the product of a zero sum game.

Utahns want three separate, individual branches of government that respect each other, and don’t conspire to tear the other down. Utahns want to stop spending money defending unconstitutional laws –and losing–in court. Utahns want their government to listen to them. This isn’t rocket science - this is ethical government. This is good leadership - people who do what they say and say what they do.

The most common question I got on the campaign trail last year about the party was WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR. People know what Republicans stand for and they know what Democrats stand for but they don’t think they know what third parties stand for. That is our challenge.

I could explain that we stand for ethical government, or increased funding for public education and increase opportunities, or a free market system with an efficient tax system, or responsible environmental stewardship, or protection against discrimination, but mostly I would explain that we stand for better government - we believe in principles over policies, because good principles - democracy, individual liberties, due process, transparency and ethical government - lead to honest collaboration and good policies.

I would rather have principles and no policies than policies and no principles.

And now, combined with the Utah Forward Party, we can focus on Priorities that Utahns choose to focus on, like water or housing affordability or government transparency. Those are the priorities that Utahns care about. It does no good in Utah for a national party to dictate what we believe in - and then for that national party to abandon all of its alleged beliefs in pursuit of cheap popularity and easy votes. Either you believe in due process or you don’t. Either you believe in family values or you don’t.

In New York City after 9/11 - it didn’t matter that we came from different places, were different colors, had different beliefs, were different religions, and wanted different things in life, for a beautiful moment, we were just New Yorkers who wanted to help to solve a problem for others who were hurting. Humility, empathy, and gratitude.

Our new, combined party can be this type of force here in Utah. There are real problems Utahns are facing. But our leaders aren’t listening because they’re too busy trying to win their partisan blood sport..

The two party system has not served us well - it was never meant to! We cannot see beyond the “us vs them” mentality. It’s time to move beyond that psyche and look to do what’s best for Utah. It’s time to listen to Utahns. And to support leaders who listen to Utahns. Let’s model that type of leadership. And let’s demand that type of leadership.

Utahns don’t like the extremism in politics. Many are disengaging - or looking elsewhere from the GOP. Let’s give them a reason to reengage. Good candidates. Positive messages. Honest government. And something to believe in.

I’m so glad you’re here. Join us. Volunteer. Donate. Spread the word. Run for office. But most of all - vote. The second most frequent comment I got on campaign trail was I love your message - show me you can win, and then I’ll jump on board. Well, it has to be the other way around. Together, we can make a difference here in Utah. And I can’t wait to get started.

Christine Todd Whitman

I’ve had the pleasure of following Utah politics from afar for some time. There is something about living here that inspires its citizens to serve their country and to remain more civically engaged. For a long time, Utah Republicans always seemed to espouse their conservative values with a special sense of decency and good-heartedness. And, for some, that of course remains true to this day, and I continue to admire and appreciate their efforts.

But there is also a broader, unsettling trend nationally, and Utah has unfortunately not been spared. At this particular moment in history, the ugliness of partisan politics is on full display. It certainly seems as if there are more and more politicians comfortable with abandoning their dedication to decency and good-heartedness. Name-calling and divisive language rules the day, and that’s no way to act when you're an elected leader.

The Forward/UUP Convention and merger this week has shown me there is still so much hope that we can return to our values. The 200 or so folks who were in attendance were just the tip of the spear. The people of Utah deserve a Party that represents them. Since 2017, the United Utah Party carried this baton, and now it’s been passed to Forward. The name has changed, but the values of the UUP remain steadfastly represented. I have no doubt that in due time all their hard work will be rewarded, and the people will benefit from it.

Andrew Yang

The polls say that 60% of voters want a new political party, and it's no wonder why. The existing parties have failed to address the biggest issues facing voters. People want job security and to plan for their retirement; they want their kids to be safe, they want to live in a nation of laws that protect them, they don’t want to be told they need to hate their neighbors if they disagree with them on some policy position. They want their representatives to pay attention to their lives and listen to their needs.

Instead, the legacy parties are focused on maintaining power and the "us versus them" fight that keeps their fundraising totals high.

I tried to reform the system from the inside, but I found that it wouldn't work, because the incentives were all wrong. Instead, I worked with others to start a new party, so that we could build it from the bottom up with the right incentives in place.

We're already seeing it working across the country. We are building a 50-state movement, and Utah is at the forefront of that. Already, we're seeing great leaders stand up. Volunteers are building the party, and elected officials like Senator Thatcher are joining us. We're building alliances that turn into mergers, like with the United Utah Party.

Utah is a unique state, and it's ready for a new option that reflects its values. It's ready to move Forward.

–

For additional context and comments from all principles, contact Phil Boileau at [email protected] or (801) 441-0031.

Final Vote to take place at April 26 Convention, which will also include topics of interest to the broader public.

4/22/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Michelle Quist expected as the combined Party Chair

Pending a final vote of approval by party members on April 26th, The United Utah Party (UUP) and the Utah Forward Party (FWD) are announcing the officers who will serve as the combined party’s Executive Committee after the merger. Michelle Quist is expected to serve as Party Chair.

Quist is a litigation and appellate attorney at Buchalter and a single mother of seven. Prior to running for Utah Attorney General as the UUP candidate in 2024 she served as a Utah Bar Commissioner, a member of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, and as Secretary of the Utah Republican Party from 2013-2015.

“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve Utah,” said Chair candidate Michelle Quist. “The legacy two-party system has left behind the common sense majority of voters. That’s why building a truly viable alternate option is so critical to both Utah and the Nation at large.”

A Memorandum of Understanding signed and made public on April 2nd stipulates the conditions under which Quist is anticipated to be elected Chair. Review the full MOU here: bit.ly/FWD_UUP_MOU. The section below includes more detail on the candidates and voting agenda that is expected to take place.

–

Convention Details

We welcome all Utahns broadly interested in election reform and the independent political space to attend the April 26th Convention at the SLCC Thayne Student Center, Redwood Campus.

The schedule of the convention includes activities of interest to the broader public. The details are as follows:

• 9:00am - Doors open for check-in
• 9:45-10:30am - Party business, including the votes on leadership and the MOU
• 10:30am-12:00pm - Post merger reconvening and celebration, Priorities voting, and speeches/Q&A by
  • Senator Daniel Thatcher, SD 11 (Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah Counties)
  • Christine Todd Whitman, former Governor of New Jersey and EPA Administrator under George W. Bush
  • Michelle Quist
  • David Hinckley
• 12:00-12:40pm - Lunch and socializing
• 12:40-1:30pm - Breakout sessions on Forward Priority issues:
  • An update on the ongoing Independent Redistricting battle in Utah
  • Great Salt Lake and environmental policy
  • Political approaches to the housing affordability crisis
  • A seminar on how to engage in civil dialogue and depolarization

For more information, visit utahforwardparty.org/2025_state_convention.

–

Combined Executive Committee Process and Candidates

All officer position candidates listed below are running un-opposed.

Utah Forward Party:
Chair: Adam Teuscher
Vice Chair: David Hinckley
Secretary: Lynn Taylor
Treasurer: Phil Boileau

United Utah Party:
Chair: Michelle Quist
Vice Chair: Ladd Johnson
Secretary: Patricia Bradford
Treasurer: Orlando Williams

As provided in the MOU signed on April 2nd, the officers elected by each party will then select 3 officers each to reform into a newly combined 6-person Executive Committee. Since both parties’ officers’ slates are running unopposed, the officer candidates from each party have met and agreed that: (i) if they are approved by their respective parties; and (ii) if the merger is approved by the membership, the post-merger Executive Committee of the combined party will be as follows:

Chair: Michelle Quist
Vice Chair: David Hinckley
Secretary: Patricia Bradford
Treasurer: Lynn Taylor
Director of Press/Fundraising: Phil Boileau
Director of Outreach/Volunteer Coordination: Ladd Johnson

Adam Teuscher and Orlando Williams will maintain positions on the merged central committee.

–

Senator Daniel Thatcher, Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and Michelle Quist will be available for extended interviews before, during, and after the April 26th convention. To arrange an extended interview in advance, contact Phil Boileau at [email protected] or (801) 441-0031.

Additionally, the following individuals are immediately available for media comment:

• Presumptive FWD/UUP Chair Michelle Quist at [email protected] or (310) 909-6154
• Current UUP Chair Ladd Johnson at [email protected] or (801) 633-0184
• Current FWD Chair Adam Teuscher at [email protected] or (385) 352-3239

Agreement to be finalized at April 26 Joint Convention

4/2/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, elected leaders of the United Utah Party (UUP) and the Utah Forward Party (FWD) announce the signing of an agreement to formally present plans for a party merger at an upcoming joint organizing convention taking place on April 26. If consummated, it is believed to be the first ever merger of political parties in the State of Utah.

Discussions about a possible merger have been taking place for many months and have recently accelerated, building on the momentum of the news that Senator Daniel Thatcher (SD 11: Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah Counties) switched his affiliation to the Utah Forward Party on March 7th, the last day of the Utah Legislative Session.

Adam Teuscher, chair of the Utah Forward Party said, “Since 2017 the UUP has been a home to disenfranchised voters and candidates who bravely opted out of an obviously dysfunctional two-party system. They’ve worked tirelessly to give voters a quality third option. They believe that electeds should put the interests of their constituents over those of party bosses. Forward stands for the same, but we do so as part of a 50-state movement. UUP blazed the path, and through this merger, we hope to widen it.”

Ladd Johnson, chair of the United Utah Party, said, “The United Utah Party's long-term vision has always been to start locally and build-up a grass-roots political movement in Utah before eventually joining together with similar movements from other states. The proposed merger with the Forward Party is an important and exciting step in furthering that vision. We will bring the experience, excellent platform and approach, and dedicated leaders and members of the UUP and combine with the talent, energy and national presence of the Forward Party.”

The decision to merge ultimately rests in the hands of party members, who will have the opportunity to vote on the merger proposal in separate votes on April 26. According to the terms of the MOU, a combined interim Executive Committee would then be appointed from existing party leadership to oversee the largely unprecedented process of joining separately recognized political parties in accordance with the laws of Utah.

While voting to approve the merger will be limited to those who were legacy party members prior to the date of this announcement, the public is invited to attend. We welcome all Utahns broadly interested in election reform and the independent political space. The convention will include a keynote address by former New Jersey Governor Chrstine Todd Whitman, co-founder of the National Forward Party, as well as panels and breakout sessions focused on priority issue areas. For more information and to RSVP, visit https://www.utahforwardparty.org/2025_state_convention.

Review the full MOU here: https://bit.ly/FWD_UUP_MOU

The following individuals are available for media comment:

• United Utah Party Chair Ladd Johnson at [email protected] or (801) 633-0184. If unavailable, contact Vice Chair Patricia Bradford at [email protected] or (385) 325-1620
  Utah Forward Party Chair - Adam Teuscher at [email protected] or (385) 352-3239.
  To arrange comments from Forward National Leadership, including Founding Co-Chair Christine Todd Whitman or Founding Co-Chair Andrew Yang - contact Matt Shinners at [email protected]

Hey everyone, I’m Miles Pomeroy. I’m not your usual candidate for State Treasurer. I’m running to introduce the Forward Party to the people of Utah. I believe it’s important to give voters a real choice, and that means challenging the typical two-party system that controls our politics. By casting a vote for me, you’re investing in a vision for a stronger and more vibrant political future, not just for Utah, but for the whole nation.

The Utah Forward Party is excited to announce a slate of 11 "Forward Affiliate" endorsements in races across Utah. These individuals join four candidates running directly on the Utah Forward Party ballot line, as well as the previously announced endorsements of Michelle Quist, State Attorney General (United Utah) and John Curtis, US Senate (Republican). The Forward Party supports principled candidates regardless of party affiliation, and we are proud of this collaborative approach to politics.

View the official Press release here

How Utah Forward Priorities Work

What is a Priority, and how is it different from a traditional policy?

A priority is an important matter that should be addressed by our elected officials. This is different from a policy, which is a proposed solution for a priority. Party policies are often enshrined in a party’s platform document.

The Forward Party is not just a new political party. It's a new definition of what a party is supposed to be. Instead of assuming the best approach is through a top-down platform document, Utah Forwardists identify their priorities for themselves. The Party organizes open discussion around possible solutions, and candidates present their plans to address those priorities.

This approach accomplishes two important things:

1. It opens up the field to a range of propositions which encourages open debate and data-driven solutions.
2. It forces candidates to articulate a clear plan to address each priority. Voters can then compare competing candidates using our priorities as a measuring stick.

Priorities are also different from values (read about ours here). Values are abstract, common-sense tenets we try to adhere to, whereas priorities are more specific to the issues.

How Priorities are identified

Members of the community submit priorities. The priorities with the most votes at our Convention are designated as “top priorities.” On an ongoing basis, the Forward Party will dedicate its efforts to identifying common ground solutions to the top priorities. This is a new process which we expect to improve over time.

Here are the the steps:

1. Utah Forwardists submit their priorities via a form once the submission window opens (before the annual Convention).
2. The Priorities Committee compiles the priorities into a comprehensive list. This will include merging similar suggestions and standardizing language. The Committee will exclude incendiary submissions that are deemed not to be in line with Forward's value of Grace and Tolerance.
3. Participants at the state convention will use Approval Voting to vote for all of the proposed priorities they believe should be priorities for the coming year.
   
   1. Any priority approved by at least 50% will be included on the published list of Utah Priorities.
   2. The priorities that receive the most votes will be identified as our top priorities.

2026 Top Priorities

Top Priorities are defined as those that received 2/3 vote at convention.

Affordable Housing

The rising cost of buying and renting homes in Utah, and what policies might help make housing more available and affordable — especially for first-time buyers and lower-income residents.

Election Reform & Voting Systems

How Utah conducts its elections, including proposals for new voting methods like ranked-choice or approval voting, opening primary elections to all voters, protecting mail-in voting, and ensuring that people outside the two major parties have a meaningful voice.

Redistricting & Gerrymandering

How political district boundaries are drawn in Utah, whether that process is fair and independent, and the ongoing disputes over congressional and state legislative maps.

Separation of Powers & Judicial Independence

Whether Utah's three branches of government maintain their proper independence from one another, including recent legislative efforts to reshape the state court system after rulings the legislature disagreed with.

Water Conservation & the Great Salt Lake

The future of the Great Salt Lake and what its lake levels mean for the region's health, environment, and economy, alongside broader questions about how Utah manages our water supply through drought, agricultural use, and growth.

--

2026 Priorities

Priorities are defined as those that received 1/2 vote at convention.

Air Quality

Air pollution levels across Utah, particularly along the Wasatch Front, and the steps our government can take to protect public health by improving the air we breathe.

Campaign Finance & Lobbying Reform

The influence of money and special interests on politics, including how campaigns are funded, how lobbyists operate, and what rules should govern the financial relationships between elected officials and outside groups.

Education Funding & Reform

How Utah's public schools are funded and structured, including debates over school choice, funding fairness between districts, teacher pay and retention, special education, and how schools should prepare students for a world increasingly shaped by AI.

Government Transparency & Ethics

Whether our government operates openly and honestly, including requirements for public disclosure, ethical standards for officials, and systems for catching and addressing corruption.

Healthcare Affordability & Access

The cost of healthcare and who can get it, including gaps in coverage for people who are retired, low-income, or between jobs, and what policy options exist to broaden access.

Immigration Policy

How our federal and state governments handle immigration, including legal pathways to residency and citizenship, Utah's role in enforcement, and how immigrants and asylum seekers are treated under current policy.

Social Safety Net & Human Services

The public programs that support vulnerable Utahns — including Medicaid, food assistance, childcare, senior services, homeless services, mental health care, and foster care — and how well those programs are funded and functioning.

Urban Planning, Infrastructure & Transportation

How Utah manages growth, including zoning, public transit, road and school infrastructure, walkable neighborhoods, and long-term planning — including preparations for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

--

2026 Convention Vote Results

125 votes were counted. Two additional paper ballots were cast provisionally, but were not counted, as the difference in their counting would not have changed the final results.

This is a page of resource links to Leadership. Bookmark this page!

If you have ideas for links to add here, or if you have trouble accessing your links, ask Phil - [email protected].

NEW ORG CHART AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Click here to see the current makeup of all state and county committees

Click here to see what roles we are currently looking for volunteers to fill

EXPENSE REPORTING

Important! We have a legal obligation to report every penny we spend on party business to Utah Disclosures. Do not spend your own money on party business without reporting it as an in-kind donation.

Use the Expense Reporting Form to either:

• report an in-kind gift (money you've spent that you don't want reimbursed), or
• report an expense that you need to be reimbursed for. We cannot guarantee that expenses will be approved for reimbursement unless you ask for approval - we recommend doing this before spending anything.

EVENT SUBMISSION FORM

Utah Forward Party Event Submission Form - use this to submit details of all upcoming events so that we can publish them on the site and promote them on socials. Please be diligent and pay attention to detail! 

Event Submission is open to state committees, county parties, Forward and affiliate candidates, and nonprofit partners that have been approved by the Executive Committee. 

PHOTO SUBMISSION PROCESS

Whenever possible, take photos at party activities and then share them to the Forward Utah Events Album. Then email [email protected] or the current Social Media Manager with a brief description of the event for them to use in follow-up social media posts. 

SHARED CALENDAR

If you use Gmail or Outlook, you can add a shared Utah Forward Party calendar. Any member of the Central Committee can view the calendar, and any member of the Executive or Events Committee can add things to the calendar. Additionally, any events submitted through the form above will be added.

Click here to add the calendar
Click here to view the calendar in a browser

If you need help with adding or managing the Shared Calendar, ask Phil. Update 6/17/2026 - Not sure if this is being used regularly. Check the Events page for more.

COUNTY PARTY RESOURCES

For increased privacy, the information in this section is set so permissions are set according to your role in the party. If you are unable to access information in this section for a county or committee you're part of, please contact Patricia at [email protected].

County and Committee Leadership

• County and committee leadership contact information is now found here: Utah FWD Leadership Directory & Information
• 2026 Candidate Roster & Contact Info
• To email all Committee Chairs, email [email protected]
• To email Executive Committee members, email [email protected]
• To email all members of the Central Committee, email [email protected]

Budget

The party's budget shows you the approved budget v. actual spending, including individual tabs with remaining totals for county budgets: FWD UT Budget Tracking 2026

Shared Google Drives

Saving all files to a Shared Google drive is more essential than you think, and we strongly encourage you to take the extra time and effort to make sure all your files are saved to a well-organized shared drive. Without taking this steps, future generations of committee members will lose access to your hard work, and other members of your committees won't know where to find/access the files they need to collaborate.

Links:

• Central Committee
• Committees
  • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Candidates
  • Comms/PR
  • Data
  • Events
  • Fundraising
  • Priorities
  • Relationships
  • Volunteers
• Counties
  • Cache
  • Davis
  • Salt Lake
  • Utah
  • Weber

KNOWLEDGE BASE

The National Forward party has compiled a resource called the Knowledge Base (KBase) where advice and guidance on a wide variety of party business has been compiled. Many of these resources are intended for Executive-level state leadership, and keep in mind that the state party strategy varies widely (Utah is one of the very few with early ballot access), so not all articles will directly apply.

However, this can be a great place to start when looking for guidance on a variety of subjects, from detailed how-to articles about admin tools like Nationbuilder and Discord, to broad advice for Candidate Recruitment and Comms messaging. State Leadership receives their own username/password for the KBase, but we are posting Phil's login information here for anyone else who wants to peruse it. 

Forward Party Knowledge - https://kbase.forwardparty.com/login
Username: [email protected]
Password: FwdInUtah2024

Additionally, party members who have been onboarded to into National Leadership team can access the National Forward Party Dashboard. That dashboard can be found here. (requires access to the National Nationbuilder, which is different than the Utah instance)

STYLE & DESIGN ASSETS

We encourage everyone to create their own signage and other printed materials, social media posts, etc. on an as-needed basis, but as Forward is a national movement, it's very important that materials share the same branding and aesthetics that have been adopted nationally. Please make sure all your materials adhere to the style guide and use approved resources. Additionally, many resources have already been developed that you can peruse. Links for state logos, icons, and slide templates are included.

Anyone can create a free Canva account and start creating branded designs. The Comms Committee also has access to a professional account - if you'd like help with or access to this Canva account, contact Phil at [email protected].

Style Guide

FWD_Style-Guide_Abridged_Expressive.pdf

Existing Resources (designs, logos, event materials & handouts)

• FWD Graphics and Photos - Folders include Event Resources like signage & tablecloth designs, predesigned handouts, and all state and county party logos
• Utah Photo Gallery - owned by National. Images from Google Photo album periodically get moved here.
• National Brandmarks and Logos
• National Designs
• National Press Kit
• National Video and Photo Instructions

Suggested Vendors

We encourage all leaders to develop their own professional relationships with vendors in an area that's geographically convenient to you, but in case you don't yet have those relationships, here are a few we like to work with:

• Minuteman Press Cottonwood Heights* - Pamphlets, Signs, Banners, Flags, Tablecloths, Business Cards, and everything else you need. MUCH cheaper than FedEx, Canva, OfficeMax, and others!
• Time Graphix - Swag/handouts (mugs, pens, stress balls, etc.)
• Stickermule - Stickers, bumper stickers, and custom labels (create your own account or talk to Phil to use the state party account)
• SLC Print - Yard signs
• Sunprint Solutions - Printhouse with very competitive pricing on bulk mailers (1,000+ units)
• T-Shirts (Mike Sims has a great vendor in Weber County, need the info)

*FWD Utah has a preferred pricing relationship with Minuteman and they can bill the State Party directly and easily. If placing an order with Minuteman, cc [email protected] and [email protected].

COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES/DESCRIPTIONS

Candidates

• Responsible for recruiting candidates and providing training and ongoing support.
• Works with the Data Committee to identify winnable or strategic districts.
• Coordinates with county parties to identify and cultivate potential candidates.
• Reminds candidates of filing deadlines.

Comms/PR

• Manages the party’s message: press releases, media strategy, and digital content.
• Oversees newsletters, social media, and graphic design.
• Maintains website and supports outreach via TV, radio, podcasts, and advertising.

Events

• Organizes conventions, forums, fundraisers, and community socials.
• Coordinates with county teams on outreach efforts like canvassing, tabling, and parade participation.
• Oversees event tech needs (e.g., mics, Zoom hosting)

Fundraising

• Executes donor outreach strategy, sends thank-you notes, and organizes fundraising events.
• Coordinates with Events Committee (for fundraisers), Volunteers Committee (for recurring donations), and Relationships Committee (for major donors).

Volunteers

• Coordinates onboarding, assignment approvals, and succession planning.
• Maintains the job board and org chart.
• Helps reassign volunteers during campaign and legislative seasons.
• Collaborates with university liaisons to place interns.
• As needed, recommend the setup of new county parties
• Admin and oversee internal discussion spaces like Discord and FB Group
• Volunteer communication

Priorities

• Supports issue research priorities selected by party members at the convention.
• Monitors legislative sessions, tracking legislation, assigning watchers, and recommending public responses.
• Supports Events and Relationships Committees on policy forums.
• Monitors news throughout the year and alerts party members to important developments
• Supports elected leaders and candidates in policy development.

Relationships

• Builds and manages partnerships with outside organizations and key individuals.
• Ensures party members are aware of worthwhile events to support from these organizations.
• Includes university liaisons who help launch and support campus clubs and internships.

Constitution/Bylaws

• Maintains governance documents and party structure safeguards.
• Oversees the party’s compliance calendar.
• Addresses risks of hostile takeovers and structural integrity.

DISCORD

DISCORD is by far the best way to stay active in this group. You can Direct Message (DM) anybody else, and you can use special characters to bring special attention to your messages for anyone in a group.

How to send push notifications to channels (for must-read correspondences)

Use @[Discord name] to send a push notification to a particular person
Use @Utah to send a push notification to everybody in our Utah channel
Use #[channel name] to send a push notification to everybody subscribed to a channel

How to set up Discord

1. Follow this link: https://discord.com/invite/knmuFxfehD
2. Set up an account (if you don't have one already)
3. Follow instructions found here (message Adam or Phil if you need access to the Admin drive) for setting up Discord notifications in a way that won't be annoying.
4. Tag Adam (@wades10) in the #ut-discussion thread and mention your name. He'll add you any private committee threads you need to be on.
5. Once you're set up on your desktop, add this app to your phone too! The notifications are most useful like this - otherwise you may miss out on important conversation.
6. How to set up notifications see here

HOW TO MAKE A MOBILE APP FOR THIS PAGE 

If you want one-click access to this page (or any other) from your mobile device, we recommend creating an app icon using the following instructions:  

How to add this page as an app to an iPhone
How to add this page as an app to an Android via Google Chrome

--

Gallup poll on Party Affiliations: https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

For what it’s worth here’s what I think: I think that whether or not you live in Utah, whether you’re a Democratic, Republican, or like me, a None-of-the-above, supporting the Utah Forward Party at this moment is a fundamentally productive thing to do. Really. A small expression of support here, in this specific moment, could have an outsized impact on the long term health of our country.

Read on if you’re willing to hear me out.

Facing the Problem

Politics is broken, and our broader society has been unduly strained because of it. Everyone feels it in some way or another, and we’re all feeling pessimistic. Here’s why:

1. Political power is derived from the approval of the masses - that’s a good thing.
2. The approval of the masses can be manipulated by powerful entities like politicians, businesses and the media - that’s neither good nor bad, it’s just a fact of life.
3. In the pursuit of power (and wealth), these entities have collectively decided that polarization is an easier sell than cooperation; it’s harder to run a campaign on productive solutions than it is to simply run against the other guys, “This idea might work” has been largely replaced by “That guy sucks.” - that’s a cynical thing.
4. This polarization has bled out of the Beltway and into our living rooms. Many of us no longer believe in the possibility of compromise; four in ten Americans believe Civil War is at least “somewhat likely” in the next decade. - that’s a dangerous thing.

Combine all this with a cocktail of incredibly volatile new technological advancements, disconcerting shifts in worldwide population density and resource consumption, and the global decline of small-d democratic values…I don’t want to say it’s a powder keg…but it might be a powder keg.

In truth, maybe there’s nothing to be done. If you think nuclear war is already inevitable, or that the next pandemic is going to finish us off, or that we’re all about to become homogenous dehumanized cyborgs whether we opt in or not, then none of this matters and the efficacy of government has no role in any of it. Maybe this is just what it looks like when an empire declines.

But that’s a little fatalistic, yeah? Aren’t some of these solvable problems? Shouldn’t politics be less ugly?

So what do we do?

I’ll start by asking you to listen, really listen, to what my friends at the Forward Party are trying to say:

They’re saying productive political discourse built on compromise won’t exist unless it’s incentivized, and currently, the opposite is true. This is for two reasons:

1. You don’t need to compromise if there are only two parties. Voter dissatisfaction is inevitable, so if you’re not in power, just spew a bunch of vitriol and wait out the pendulum swing. Eventually your team will take over and you can set your agenda then.
2. The gerrymandering of districts and closed, simple majority voting systems mean the Primaries are now more significant than the General Election. This produces elected officials who are beholden to a more extreme sub-grouping within their respective parties and who believe that compromise shows weakness. This leaves the moderate center less represented than ever before.

I actually think the solution is pretty straightforward:

More parties means healthier dialogue and progress through compromise, and the path to more parties is through election reform. It also helps if you treat your rivals with a modicum of respect.

I genuinely want both the Democrats and the Republicans to be better versions of themselves. At one time, they were meant to represent both sides of a reasonable philosophical debate about the role of government, not just the misplaced tribalism we see today. But there are no incentives for the parties to change on their own. I’m pretty certain that somebody else will have come along from the outside and save them from themselves.

Why Forward?

I’d rather not wait around for the next great national trauma to befall us before we’re spurred to action. Do we really need a presidential assassination attempt, or a terrorist attack, or for someone to self-immolate on TikTok before we’re spurred to seek solutions? Is that really what it takes to see a paradigm shift?

I think that small moves made by well-meaning nerds have a better chance at really making the world turn. Enter Forward.

I find it’s best to think Forward as both a movement and a political party.

As a movement, Forward’s primary focus is on election reform, or the science and structure of how elections are optimally managed. This means changes to voting methods (Ranked-Choice Voting, Approval, STAR), campaign finance reform, open primaries, etc. A politician or voter therefore doesn’t have to be in the Forward Party to share the principles of the movement.

But without real political power at our backs, we cannot reasonably expect meaningful progress on election reform; hence the Forward Party. It was founded to support candidates dedicated to Election Reform as a policy cornerstone, and to give a home to disenfranchised centrist candidates who’ve opted out of the toxic cycle of business-as-usual. It’s also redefining what a party is supposed to be - rather than a collection of specific stances on hot button issues, it’s a bottom-up framework for approaching those issues.

Forward isn’t built on a radical ideology or as a fringe governmental philosophy, and by design it avoids the hot button issues that divide us, so we instead focus on what binds us. There are no plans to run a presidential candidate in 2024 or beyond and we’ll focus instead on local races, yet it still has a strong national voice. These are good reasons to believe Forward may succeed where third parties have historically faltered.

I wonder if there are millions of Americans, from everyday voters to sitting members of congress, who align with Forward’s principles, but who remain reluctant to step up until this nascent ideology crosses some tipping point, and the experiment becomes viable.

Why Utah?

Like all political movements, Forward needs to be rooted at the local level. I believe Utah is particularly well-positioned to succeed in gaining local traction.

Over the last few election cycles, Utah has also shown itself to be more amenable to independent thinking; let’s call it the frontier spirit. In Utah there are currently more unaffiliated voters than registered Democrats. This is the state where 73% of Democrats support a Republican Senator (Mitt Romney) and 48% of Democrats support a Republican Governor (Spencer Cox).

Utah is just one square on the gameboard, but I believe its position is strategically significant. If you agree with how I define the problem, and you see Forward as a potential solution, the success of our efforts in Utah may have outsized national reverberations. It makes sense, right?

How do we make progress?

The good news is Utah has a comparatively simple process for new political parties to gain legal recognition and ballot access. We need 2000 signatures and to host a convention to elect officers and ratify a party constitution. Those are our crucial next steps. That’s eminently achievable, but that effort requires volunteers and resources.

Here’s what you can do to help:

• If you live in Utah, sign our petition. If you want to do more, we can give you a signature packet to distribute to your friends and family, or you can simply join our mailing list to stay apprised of future opportunities.
• If you live outside of Utah, consider making a donation (here’s my fundraising page), and check out the National website to learn more about the Forward Approach and to connect with Forwardists in your state (we’re in all 50).

In the very least, try to not be angry with people about their politics; their truth is not your own, and I’m pretty certain there’s more to be gained from listening than from shouting. Thanks for listening to me.

Phil Boileau
Outreach Lead, Forward Utah

--