Political parties hold county, state conventions

Voters in the new school district three as well as members of the San Juan County Republican party will participate in a Primary election this June.

All registered voters in San Juan School District Three and Registered Republicans in Commission district two will participate in county-primaries. 

All Republicans in San Juan County will participate in a primary for both US House District Three and a US Senate seat.

Following 2021 redistricting, the school board’s new district three seat includes Bluff, White Mesa, Mexican Hat, parts of Montezuma Creek and parts of Blanding.

The June 28 primary will ask all registered voters in the school board district three to narrow a field of three down to two for November's general election.

Voters will choose between Colleen E. Benally, Sheila Stubbs Knight, and Valerie Lee, with the top two vote earners advancing to November's general election.

School board positions are non-partisan meaning all registered voters in the district, regardless of party affiliation, are invited to vote.

Both local political parties held county conventions ahead of their parties' state conventions which took place on April 23.

Members of the San Juan County Democratic Party held their county convention on March 27 via zoom. Party officials reported good turnout as the party selected delegates to send to the state convention. 

While the local party is fielding four candidates for county office none face a primary challenger and all will advance to the November General Election.

Members of the San Juan County Republican Party held their county convention on April 14 at Monticello High School. Party officials reported around 100 people at the convention including Utah Lt. Governor Diedre Henderson as well as Utah State Treasurer, State Auditors and candidates for federal office in attendance.

At the County Republican Convention delegates voted in one primary for County Commission District two. Silvia Stubbs reportedly won over 75-percent of delegates votes over Clint E. Black.

Both Stubbs and Black sought nomination via the convention as well as signature gathering. Since both gathered enough signatures they will both appear on the June Primary ballot. 

The winner will advance to face Democratic Incumbent Willie Grayeyes.

San Juan County Republicans will also vote in primaries for the US House of Representatives and US Senate.

Both the Utah Republican Party and the Utah Democratic Party held their state conventions on Saturday, April 23. 

At the state convention Republican Delegates voted on who would represent the party for US Congressional District Seat Three which includes all of San Juan County. 

Incumbent John Curtis has represented the district since 2017. During the first round of delegate voting Curtis won 41-percent of the vote, while challenger Chris Herrod won 29-percent of the vote and Jason Preston won 18-percent of the vote. 

A second round of voting narrowed the field to the top two vote earners. Curtis earned 45-percent of the vote, while Herrod earned 55-percent. As a result the two will face off in a primary election across the district.

The Utah Democratic Party avoided a primary for House District three with Glenn Wright winning 91-percent of the Democratic delegate vote over Archie Williams.

Republican Delegates also threw their weight behind Incumbent Senator Mike Lee at the state convention. Lee won 70-percent of the delegates votes, while challenger Becky Edwards won 11-percent and challenger Ally Isom won 9-percent. 

While Lee secured his place on the ballot via the convention he will face both Edwards and Isom in a state-wide primary election as Edwards and Isom secured enough signatures from Registered Republicans to ensure their place on the Primary Election.

The Democratic party meanwhile voted not to nominate a candidate for the US Senate race. By a vote of 57-percent to 43-percent delegates elected not to put forth Kael Weston as the party's candidate. 

The move is intended to open up a path for unaffiliated candidate Evan McMullin to win the senate seat.