Utah is known as a conservative state.  However, the reality is more nuanced.  Utah does have a higher proportion of self-described conservatives than is found in most other states, according to a Gallup Poll of ideology across states issued last month.

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Yet, Utah also is among the top five states in the number of self-identified moderates.  Forty percent of Utahns identify themselves not as conservatives or liberals, but as moderates.  Only Hawaii, Delaware, and North Dakota have a higher percentage of moderates.  Rhode Island ties with Utah.

After having lived in Utah for a long time, these results do not surprise me.  Utah has a well educated population that is enamored with neither the right-wing Republicans nor the left-wing Democrats.  Individual districts elect extremists from both parties, but voters statewide tend to eschew the extremists.  Even many Utah voters who are Republicans differentiate themselves from the more extremist elements of the Republican Party.  The presidency of Donald Trump has separated them even more.  Moreover, the political stances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the religious affiliation of the vast majority of active Utah voters, have been more moderate than either the Republican or Democratic parties on issues such as abortion and immigration.

What does that mean for the United Utah Party?  It means Utah is a prime location for our experiment of whether a centrist political party can attract a niche that leads to competing across the state, winning elections, and beginning to help shape public policy in a more moderate direction.  This is a much better state than nearly all others to launch such a party.

Can we translate that 40 percent of self-identified moderates into 40 percent of the votes in an election?   That is the challenge.  But if we could, we would win many of those elections in three way races.  To do so, we need to get our message out.

What can you do with this information?

  First - When you look around your neighborhood and community, you may think you only see conservatives.  But, in reality, a large proportion of the people you see are really moderates, just like you.  Invite them to join the UUP and finally find a political home for themselves.

  Second - Donate to the party so we will have the resources to inform voters of who we are and how close we are to what they already believe.  Go to unitedutah.org/donate.

  Third - Volunteer - We need help with event planning, organizing party supporters in various precincts and legislative districts, research, and so one. 

Moderates are in abundance.  They just don't realize there is a party just for them.  Help us tell them.

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