Utah forms new centrist political party

[Skunk]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865680509/Frustrated-Utah-Republicans-Democrats-form-new-centrist-political-party.html

Political science professor Richard Davis has announced the forming of the United Utah Party, a centrist political party formed out of the increasing polarization of the two party system. They're trying to get enough signatures to get ballot access before the UT-03 special election and are working on running candidates for the 2018 election as well.

"The United Utah Party plans to hold open primaries and lower the threshold for candidates to get on the ballot in convention. It also supports term limits for statewide and legislative offices, stricter campaign finance laws and an independent redistricting commission.

The party platform calls for free religious expression, endorses the right to own guns, favors increased education spending and supports abortion in the case of rape, incest and danger to the mother."

I'm assuming that if McMullin were to make a return to politics that this would be the way to do it, though it doesn't mention if he's involved with this yet. Could this have a long-term effect on Utah politics?

[SingingAnalyst]

Good idea.

[TheSaint250]

This is already in U.S. General Discussion.

[Sumner 1868]

What's the point of a bland neoliberal party when the Democrats already exist?

[DPKdebator]

I doubt this will take off, but it will be interesting to see what happens. My guess is that this party becomes more than a little nuisance for Republicans and will give Dems a false sense of hope about removing Republican influence in Utah (which isn't about to happen anytime soon, Trump's 45% performance was a fluke).

[NHI]

Good idea.