Join Forwardists from across the state and Forward Party Cofounder Andrew Yang 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: Taylorsville Campus Student Center, Salt Lake Community College 4600 S Redwood Rd, Taylorsville, 84123
Advanced RSVP is strongly recommended. Scroll to the bottom.
Who's invited? Everyone!
To vote in party proceedings, you must be a registered member of the Forward Party of Utah or an unaffiliated voter*. 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
Livestream
A livestream of the full event will be available on YouTube. You can attend remotely and still cast votes, but only if you RSVP.
Candidate Nomination Process
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 and unaffiliated voters* 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 - WITHDRAWN FROM RACE
- HD 23, Cabot Nelson
- HD 28, Wales Nematollahi
- HD 29, Tynley Bean
- HD 70, Zeno Perry
Priorities
Help shape the issues you want the candidates we nominate to address. Each convention cycle, we vote on Party Priorities. Voting is open to party members and unaffiliated voters who are registered to vote in Utah. Voting takes place almost entirely online, so you do not need to attend Convention in person to cast a ballot. You do need to RSVP.
Learn more about the Priorities process, and how it sets Forward apart from other parties, here.
Voting Instructions
Important for voters: RSVP in advance. You’ll receive a personalized email with steps to verify your voter status so you can receive your online ballot and vote easily on convention day.
*Resolutions for 2026: On Monday, March 23, 2026, the State Central Committee approved that registered voters unaffiliated with any political party may participate in votes related to the nomination of Forward Party candidates for public office. You can read more about this process, including new amendments and resolutions, on our Charter page.
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
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