Utah Republican Party delegates are set to vote on a proposed bylaw that would revoke party membership from candidates who use the signature-gathering method to qualify for the primary ballot. Newly elected U.S. Senator John Curtis, Attorney General Derek Brown, and Governor Spencer Cox all used the signature path last election year. Under the proposal to be voted on by party delegates, all three would have their party membership revoked for gathering signatures instead of receiving the support of party delegates.
Historically, the Utah GOP has grappled with the dual-path system established by SB54, which allows candidates to either gather signatures or go through the convention process to qualify for the ballot. In 2018, a similar bylaw was adopted, threatening to expel candidates who chose the signature route. However, this move faced legal challenges and was ultimately deemed unconstitutional, leading to its repeal.