Parties not voters would select nominees in future special congressional elections, according to

Parties — not voters — would select nominees in future special congressional elections, according to proposed bill

Newly elected U.S. Rep. John Curtis likely should rejoice that he ran for Congress in a special election last year. Legislators are now proposing big changes that, had they been in place then, would have defeated him.

HB344 unveiled Wednesday by Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, would eliminate primaries in special elections — allowing only a general election. It most cases, it would give parties 30 days to determine their nominees in any way they choose.

For the Utah Republican Party, that would almost surely result in state convention delegates choosing the nominee. The bill’s structure and timing would not allow qualifying by collecting signatures.

Last year, ultraconservative former state Rep. Chris Herrod qualified for the primary by winning the GOP convention where delegates — who tend to be more conservative than voters in general — rejected Curtis.

Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/02/08/proposal-parties-not-voters-would-select-nominees-in-future-special-congressional-elections/