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Is it time to end Utah's caucus/convention system?

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Is it time to end Utah's caucus/convention system?


At the Utah Republican convention Saturday, Gov. Spencer Cox wondered if all the nastiness, boos and insults he and some other candidates endured at the hands of delegates would give “more ammunition” to those who would like to discontinue the caucus/convention system.

The simple answer is yes. The conversation surrounding the future of selecting candidates is Topic 1 this week among those who follow and support political races. It’s not just about booing candidates or expressing differences. The behavior exhibited by some at the Salt Palace Convention Center Saturday was disturbing enough to make us wonder whether the system has outlived its usefulness.

Our conclusion is that it isn’t yet time to change the system, but that party leaders should beware.

We have long supported retaining the caucus/convention system in addition to the signature-gathering system for qualifying candidates for primary ballots. The two systems combined give registered Republicans the opportunity to choose from a diversified pool of candidates.

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But that argument loses some of its luster when conventions are controlled by unruly and uncivil behavior. And when caucus night activities are so confusing or disorganized that only 9% of the Republican Party turn out to select delegates, as happened this year.

And while it’s true that candidates new to the political world may not have the name recognition or the resources to gather the requisite signatures, and that the caucus/convention system gives them an attainable route to the ballot, those advantages are lost when a my-way-or-the-highway ideology triumphs over common sense and productive debate.

It is both sobering and instructive to contemplate that, without the signature-gathering option as an alternative, Cox would have been denied a chance for reelection as governor. This, despite a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll in February showing 50% of voters favoring him in the upcoming primary. The nearest competitor had 5%.

Over the last 10 years, convention delegates have often chosen candidates other than those preferred in opinion polls. Generally, they lose in the primary election.

What really ought to give Utahns pause, however, is the incivility and nastiness that some (certainly not all) convention delegates displayed Saturday. Even Gov. Cox’s Disagree Better national campaign was mocked by some in the convention hall.

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When Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson posted on X that she was “mortified by the vulgarity and viciousness my young nieces were exposed to by another gubernatorial campaign’s supporters,” it raised questions about the intent of delegates who were elected to express the will of party members.

When a strong conservative such as Utah Rep. Kera Birkeland tweets about her daughters enduring mocking and shaming at a help desk, it elevates those questions.

And when former state senator and current Senate candidate Dan Hemmert tells us delegates seemed more concerned with conspiracy theories, federal issues and a candidate’s position on the new state flag than on vetting people for their ability to do the job to which they seek election, it raises alarm bells.

Is this the true nature of the state’s largest political party?

Hemmert told delegates the Republican Party has a record of electing good people in spite of the caucus/convention system, not because of it. That ought to give party leaders pause.

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The convention this year seemed designed to make participation difficult. Delegates complained of long lines and technical difficulties. The convention lasted 15 hours, with the original tally of 3,886 credentialed delegates having dwindled to 2,713 by the time candidates were considered for the important Senate seat being vacated by Mitt Romney.

If the caucus/convention system were scuttled, satisfying alternatives are hard to find. The party may adopt a more open primary, in which candidates would have to collect fewer, or perhaps no petition signatures. But this would only put another flaw in Utah’s election system into high relief — the lack of a runoff election procedure for races involving multiple candidates when none receives a majority of votes cast.

Certainly, there is little appetite to go back to the days of party bosses and whatever passed for a smoke-filled room in Utah. Nevertheless, it is valid to ask, is there a better way?

We are reminded of the words of John Adams, who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Utah lawmakers should be careful when it comes to changing or removing long-standing party nominating systems. It may not be time to end the caucus/convention system that served past generations so well. However, party leaders now have the responsibility to demonstrate that keeping it will be good for democracy in the future. After all, the goal should not be about control. It should be about participation and having one’s civil voice heard.

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Missing Utah children located in Croatia; woman arrested, family members say

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Missing Utah children located in Croatia; woman arrested, family members say


Four Utah children who disappeared with their mother in November have been located in Croatia, according to various updates shared by family members.

The children were seen on surveillance video at Salt Lake City International Airport boarding a plane for Europe with their mother Elleshia Seymour in late November, 2025.

An ‘Endangered Missing Advisory’ for the four children was issued on December 10 by the Utah Department of Public Safety.

“The kids are trapped in Croatia in a state-run orphanage,” wrote the family in an update on a GoFundMe page on January 25, 2026. “We are in the country, trying to get the kids out of the custody of the local government.”

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According to another family member, who shared an update in the early morning hours of Jan. 26, 2026, Elleshia Seymor was arrested on Jan. 15 in Dubrovnik, a coastal city on the southern tip of Croatia.

“We are only allowed to see the kids for two hours a day, which we do to keep up their spirits,” wrote the family member. “I cannot understand why they haven’t released the kids to us, as no one else is requesting custody, but we will keep working to get the kids released. If all else fails, we will apply through the International Court at the Hague. Once that application is sent in, they have six weeks max to decide on the matter. So we are still working daily, but prepping for the long haul.”

Elleshia Seymour was charged on December 16, 2025, with four counts of third-degree felony custodial interference by removing a child from the state. A warrant for Seymour was issued on December 17, 2025.

2News spoke with Kendall Seymour just days later, as he continued to search for his children and his ex-wife.

“She forged my signature on passports and took them early Sunday morning,” he said on December 20. “Once someone leaves the country, it becomes months instead of weeks.”

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According to a family member, Kenny arrived in Croatia on January 18, 2026, along with other family members, and they’ve been trying to get the children released.

2News reached out to West Jordan Police for additional information and is awaiting a response.

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Utah misses national winter storms as dry, cold conditions persist

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Utah misses national winter storms as dry, cold conditions persist


We saw the coldest temperatures of the season Sunday morning after SLC hit 18 degrees, and we will get close to it again Monday morning, dropping to 20 degrees.

While the eastern half of the country deals with ice, snow and extremely cold temperatures, generally our weather stays dry and cold, which is expected for the upcoming work week across Utah.

Monday is dry and mostly sunny with high temperatures getting warmer than the weekend. Highs will hit the mid-40s Monday afternoon.

Air quality improved over the weekend. As we head into Monday, the Utah Division of Air Quality has forecasted moderate air—yellow air—starting Monday into Tuesday.

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A little bit of haze tries to form, but a couple disturbances, mostly bringing clouds from the northwest, keep our air moving just enough that the inversion might not get as bad as last week.

After the coldest temperatures of the season this weekend, temperatures slowly warm over the next seven days, and no significant precipitation is expected anywhere in Utah through at least the next work week.

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‘This is a special player’: AJ Dybantsa saves his best BYU performance for rival Utah

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‘This is a special player’: AJ Dybantsa saves his best BYU performance for rival Utah


Before arriving at BYU, AJ Dybantsa admittedly didn’t know much about the school’s fierce rivalry with the University of Utah.

But fans in the Beehive State and beyond won’t be forgetting about Dybantsa’s Saturday performance anytime soon — if ever — as the freshman phenom forcefully entered rivalry lore by pouring in a career-high 43 points against the Runnin’ Utes.

“I (didn’t) know too much about the rivalry. Like, I’m from Boston, but people were just dragging it the whole time, talking about Utah this, Utah that, so I was like, ‘I guess I’ll go off for y’all,’” Dybantsa said, drawing laughs from those gathered around him postgame in the media room.

Dybantsa earned his 43 points on 15 of 24 shooting from the field, repeatedly outmaneuvering Utah’s attempts to double-team him.

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Additionally, he hit 4 of 5 3-pointers — a new personal best — and 9 of 10 shots from the foul line, also adding six rebounds, three assists and a block to his superb stat line.

“That was impressive. In my mind I was thinking, ‘Man, this is a special player,’” BYU head coach Kevin Young said.

“I’ve said it a lot, I think he is the clear cut No. 1 pick in the NBA draft coming up. It was on full display tonight. He was doing it every which way.”

While Dybantsa did score 19 points in the first half, it wasn’t until after halftime that he realized exactly what he was doing.

“When I hit like 26, Rob (Wright III) and Tyler (Mrus) were like, ‘Keep being aggressive,’ but then Tyler said, ‘You better get 40,’” Dybantsa said.

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“I looked up at the scoreboard, and I was like, ‘I might be able to get it.’ Then I kept going off and making shots. … I just thank my teammates for just giving me the ball in the right spots, and God was on my side. I was hitting shots.”

Dybantsa’s 43 points — the most at BYU since Chase Fischer’s 41 in 2015 — broke the program’s single-game freshman scoring record of 36 points that was previously set by Danny Ainge in 1977.

But Ainge, in any of his four years as a Cougar, never scored 43 points in a game.

In fact, there have only been seven better scoring performances in BYU history than that of Dybantsa on Saturday, with four coming from Jimmer Fredette alone.

“It feels good to break any record, even if it was Danny’s or not,” Dybantsa said.

For Young, the most impressive aspect of Dybantsa’s day was his response to a season-worst 13 points and loss at Texas Tech the week before.

“He was coming off his worst performance of the year. He wasn’t good at Texas Tech, and he came out tonight unfazed and clearly wanted to just go out and dominate,” Young said.

Utah’s own head coach with NBA experience, Alex Jensen, made sure to give Dybantsa his flowers as well.

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“He’s a generational talent, and he showed what he’s capable of tonight,” Jensen said. “There’s no telling how good he could get. … Great player, and he can do a lot of things. Sky’s the limit.”

Dybantsa wasn’t the only freshman in the country to go crazy on Saturday. Fellow Big 12er Kingston Flemings posted 42 points for Houston in a close loss at Texas Tech, while Keaton Wagler of Illinois exploded for 46 points in an upset at No. 4 Purdue.

“We were actually watching (Texas) Tech vs. Houston (before playing Utah), so I saw Kingston when he hit that 42 mark,” Dybantsa said. “I was like, these freshmen are going crazy.

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“We have a crazy class, I think one of the best in recent years. It feels good. I’ve been playing against these guys since I was 15, so I’ve seen these guys grow, and it’s amazing to be a part of it.”

Immediately following the win over Utah will be BYU’s toughest test yet — hosting No. 1-ranked, 20-0 Arizona Monday night in the most highly-anticipated Marriott Center matchup since Fredette faced off with Kawhi Leonard and San Diego State in 2011.

But Dybantsa is ready to rock.

“It’s going to be a tough game, but that’s what you live for,” Dybantsa said. “This is why I came to the Big 12, to play teams like this.

“… We’re looking to hand (Arizona) their first loss. The Marriott Center is going to be behind us and we’ll be prepared for them.”

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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shouts after dunking the ball against Utah during an NCAA basketball game held at the Marriott Center in Provo on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News





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