Associated PressAssociated Press
FILE - Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and his running mate Mindy Finn watch results come in during a election night watch party, on Nov. 8, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Utah Democrats pulling hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee took the unusual step Saturday, April 23, 2022, of spurning a party hopeful to instead get behind McMullin, an independent and former presidential candidate. Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016, was the best chance to beat Lee in the deeply conservative state that hasn't elected a Democratic U.S. senator for more than 50 years. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, walks onto stage to give his candidacy speech during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Becky Edwards gives her candidate speech during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Ally Isom speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Delegates stand in line at the help desk to get their voting machines programmed so they can vote at the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Volunteers pose for a photo at Sen. Mike Lee's booth during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Candidate signs line the hallways during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Volunteers pass out shirts for U.S. Sen. Mike Lee at the Utah Republican Party nominating convention, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
Delegates attend the Utah Republican Party nominating convention, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
U.S. Rep. John Curtis speaks with delegates at the Utah Republican Party nominating convention, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
U.S. Rep. John Curtis speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center in Sandy, Utah, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Jason Preston, left, and Roger Stone clasp hands following Preston's candidate speech at the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Preston is running for Utah's 3rd Congressional District. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
FILE - Conservative presidential candidate Evan McMullin speaks to his supporters during an election night watch party after Republican Donald Trump won Utah, in Salt Lake City on Nov. 8, 2016. Utah Democrats pulling hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee took the unusual step Saturday, April 23, 2022, of spurning a party hopeful to instead get behind McMullin, an independent and former presidential candidate. Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016, was the best chance to beat Lee in the deeply conservative state that hasn't elected a Democratic U.S. senator for more than 50 years. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Representative John Curtis speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Jason Preston speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. Preston is running for Utah's 3rd Congressional District. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Roger Stone, center, speaks on behalf of Jason Preston during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
Roger Stone speaks during the GOP Convention at the Mountain America Convention Center is Sandy, Utah on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Adam Fondren/The Deseret News via AP)
FILE - Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and his running mate Mindy Finn watch results come in during a election night watch party, on Nov. 8, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Utah Democrats pulling hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee took the unusual step Saturday, April 23, 2022, of spurning a party hopeful to instead get behind McMullin, an independent and former presidential candidate. Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016, was the best chance to beat Lee in the deeply conservative state that hasn't elected a Democratic U.S. senator for more than 50 years. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Utah Democrats pulled hard to defeat Republican Sen. Mike Lee on Saturday, but instead endorsed independent Evan McMullin.

Democrats were swayed by calls from prominent members who said McMullin, a conservative who captured a significant share of the vote in Utah in 2016 was the best chance to beat Lee in the deeply conservative state that hasn't elected a Democratic U.S. senator for more than 50 years.

I would like to represent you. I'm committed to that. McMullin told the delegates that he would maintain his independence.

Lee faced two GOP challengers at the convention. He won with 70% of the vote in front of the right-leaning crowd. The candidates who gathered signatures will appear on the primary ballot.

The former lawmaker got about 12% of the vote. Ally Isom was a former deputy chief of staff.

CNN reported on text messages showing that Lee was involved in early efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, but Lee later voted to confirm the election results after no widespread fraud emerged.

Lee said that he did his job the way he promised.

McMullin made inroads in the conservative state where many GOP voters had reservations about then-candidate Trump because he was a former CIA officer. Lee cast a protest vote for McMullin, but later became a Trump ally, and the former president has endorsed him.

The path for the independent was cleared when the pro-McMullin camp convinced the party delegates to not nominate Kael Weston. Former Congressman Ben McAdams was one of his supporters.

I know Evan. McAdams told delegates during the debate that McMullin was the best chance to beat Lee in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats 4-to-1.

The Democrats' decision showed a weakness in their platform, according to the Republican Party Chair.

The moderate Republican congressman was forced into a primary after a crowded field that included a challenger who brought in Roger Stone. The effort didn't help the candidate in the first round of voting.

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