Vote Save America PAC Targets Utah Democrats to Challenge GOP Incumbents

A New Push to Challenge Republican Legislators in Utah

A national political action committee focused on supporting “pro-democracy” candidates is making a significant move in Utah. The group, known as Vote Save America, has announced plans to invest $20,000 to recruit candidates who will run against several Republican state lawmakers in the upcoming elections. This initiative is part of a broader effort to shift the balance of power in the state legislature.

Vote Save America, which is the political arm of Crooked Media, has partnered with Utah’s Elevate PAC to identify and recruit potential candidates. The goal is to challenge eight Republican representatives and two senators in seats that the organization considers flippable. Crooked Media was founded by former members of the Obama administration and is well-known for its popular podcast, "Pod Save America."

The funding from Vote Save America aims to help organizers in Utah find candidates who may not typically be involved in politics. According to Gabi Finlayson, a principal at Elevate PAC, many of the best candidates are not those who have always envisioned themselves running for office. Instead, they are individuals who need to be encouraged and convinced that their voice matters.

“People that end up running for office, especially a lot of the really, really excellent ones, aren’t people that ... you know are going to run for office or that don’t really see that in their life path,” Finlayson said. “A lot of the time, the best candidates come from those places where you have to ask them to run. You have to really push them and say, ‘Hey, you’re the kind of person that we need right now.’ And so that also obviously takes time and staff and support.”

Vote Save America has previously supported campaigns and grassroots organizations across the country. The group hopes to use this investment to influence the 2026 midterm elections in Salt Lake City. Shaniqua McClendon, the head of political strategy at Vote Save America, believes Utah is uniquely positioned for change.

“It’s the youngest state in the country, one of the fastest-growing and the most college-educated red state. No state in the nation has moved further to the left over the past 20 years than Utah. There’s an independent streak here that national politics has ignored for too long,” she said.

Despite Utah’s reputation as a solidly Republican state, the margins for Republicans have decreased in recent presidential elections. While President Donald Trump performed well in previous cycles, his numbers increased slightly in the 2024 election compared to earlier years.

Utah’s House Republican PAC has defended conservative legislators, emphasizing the state's quality of life, strong economy, and low unemployment rate. In a statement to KSL.com, the Utah House Republican Election Committee claimed that the suggestion of vulnerability among conservative lawmakers is unfounded.

“What makes Utah great, however, are not the policymakers at Capitol Hill — it’s our people. Hardworking, family-oriented, service-minded Utahns who care about their neighbors, communities and our state,” the statement said. “The suggestion that Utah’s conservative lawmakers are ‘vulnerable’ or fall out of step with community ideals are unfounded. Make no mistake: These elected officials remain committed to their constituents, undeterred by outside forces and unfazed by political noise.”

With the next midterm election still more than a year away in November 2026, organizers have limited time to recruit and train potential candidates. The deadline to file as a candidate is January 2, 2026, giving organizers just a few months to act.

“We’re looking for real, normal people that are kind of outside of the political establishment,” Finlayson said. “A lot of voters are not necessarily looking for career politicians. ... The structure that we have now hasn’t always worked for a lot of people, and so we’re looking for teachers, we’re looking for nurses, we’re looking for small business owners. Just normal, everyday people.”

The PAC is specifically targeting several incumbents, including Reps. Jill Koford, R-Ogden; Matt MacPherson, R-West Valley City; Anthony Loubet, R-Kearns; Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville; Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan; Clint Okerlund, R-Sandy; Steve Eliason, R-Sandy; and Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, along with Sens. Dan McCay, R-Riverton; and Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy.

Those interested in running or who know someone who would be a good candidate are encouraged to email info@elevateutahpac.com or visit the PAC’s website.