Report finds gaps between Utah voters and party delegates
State of play: Republican and Democratic delegates appeared more pessimistic than voters about the state's trajectory, according to the report by the Utah Foundation, a nonpartisan policy research organization.
By the numbers: 84% of Democratic and 55% of Republican delegates said the state is heading in the wrong direction, compared with Democratic (79%) and Republican voters (42%).
Republican delegates prioritized the shrinking Great Salt Lake and women's rights more than GOP voters, while placing slightly less emphasis on housing and roads.
Democratic delegates said overreach and crime were less important compared with their voters.
What they're saying: "Utah's Republican delegates are somewhat more conservative than Republican voters, while Democratic delegates are about the same as Democratic voters," the report found.
Between the lines: Delegates for both parties are more likely to be white and male, have more education, be actively religious and earn higher incomes than the electorate, per the report.
What's next: Republicans are set to convene Saturday at a state organizing convention at Utah Valley University to select the Utah GOP's next leader.
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