Join Forwardists from across the state for the Forward Party of Utah’s annual State Convention—our biggest gathering of the year. At the convention, attendees will meet and nominate Forward candidates, vote on party priorities, and help shape the direction of the Forward Party of Utah for the year ahead. The program will feature a strong lineup of speakers, thoughtful discussion, and meaningful opportunities for members and supporters to share ideas and perspectives on Utah’s political future.

When: April 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Where: Salt Lake Community College 4600 S Redwood Rd, Taylorsville, 84123

Advanced RSVP is strongly recommended. Scroll to the bottom to RSVP.

Who's invited? Everyone!

To vote in party proceedings, you must be a registered member of the Forward Party of Utah. In election years, we nominate candidates, vote on Party Priorities (more below), and vote on amendments to our party's constitution & bylaws. If you haven’t yet registered with Forward and wish to participate fully, learn how and take action here.

Non-voting guests are also highly encouraged to attend! As always, Forward welcomes allies from all areas of the political tapestry. If you wish to see positive change in Utah’s politics, we warmly welcome you. 

Agenda

Agenda and speaker list are TBD; RSVP to stay updated!

Candidate Nomination Process (State Convention)

There are two very important components that distinguish how Forward conducts party business and nominations:

You do not have to be an elected delegate to vote at convention. All party members are welcome.
Voters have the option to select "No candidate at this time."

The latter point is especially important. If the residents of a district feel that the candidate seeking to represent the Forward Party does not adequately reflect our shared values and community — or if another candidate in the race, regardless of party affiliation, is preferred by the majority — then the unopposed candidate will not advance to the general election in November.

This is how our party protects itself from unserious or bad actors, and how we respond to the persistent accusation that third parties are “spoilers” (a criticism we wholeheartedly reject, but one that must be addressed nonetheless).

Candidates are nominated at the state convention if (a) the district is statewide or spans multiple counties, or (b) the county in which the district resides has not yet been officially formed as a freestanding county party.

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In 2026, the candidates seeking nomination at state convention are:

• SD 01, Julie Quinlan
• SD 11, Senator Emily Buss
• SD 20, Annette McRae
• HD 06, James Rich
• HD 08, Libby Shelton
• HD 12, Shawn Ferriola
• HD 23, Cabot Nelson
• HD 28, Wales Nematollahi
• HD 29, Tynley Bean
• HD 70, Zeno Perry

County Convention Links

County Conventions will occur in late March 2026. All are open to the public; however, you must be a Forward Party member who resides in the district to vote. If a candidate’s district lies entirely within the boundaries of a county and that county has an established County Party, the candidate’s nomination occurs at the County Convention and follows the same general rules described above.

Forward Party of Utah County Convention - March 21, 2026 - RSVP Here

Forward Party of Davis County Convention - March 26, 2026 - RSVP Here

Forward Party of Cache County Convention - March 26, 2026 - RSVP Here

Forward Party of Salt Lake County Convention - March 28, 2026 - RSVP Here

Forward Party of Weber County Convention - March 28, 2026 - RSVP Here

Images from our 2025 Convention, attended by more than 150 members of the Forward Party.
Top left, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, Chair Michelle Quist, and Sen. Daniel Thatcher
Bottom Left: Adam Teuscher, former Chair of the pre-merger Utah Forward Party