Protecting, Promoting and Preserving Caucus- Convention
April 29, 2025
Good afternoon!
From my time on Senator Mike Lee’s first campaign to my time as GOP Chair, I have always believed in the caucus-convention system. I believe it is the best nominating process in the entire country and more states should follow our example. For the system to be its most effective, we need to continue to grow the party, encourage participation in all levels of the party and educate on the platform which unifies us. Critics of the caucus point to low participation as a reason to not support the convention system; however, some participation has decreased in recent years because the law has minimized the system through the proliferation of signature gathering.
The fight for a full repeal of SB54 is still very much worth pursuing both legislatively and through strategic litigation. I believe 2026 is the perfect year to reach a legislative solution. For the first time since the passage of SB54, there is no statewide primary in 2026. Without a statewide race and with each of our current members of Congress likely to seek re-election, we can make systematic reforms to strengthen caucus-convention with minimal interference to our candidates during the next legislative session.
Although there have been 4 election cycles and chairs prior to my election, I was the first Chair to actively support the convention winners. Under my leadership, we provided unprecedented amounts of party resources to convention supported campaigns as decided by delegates. This totaled more than $200,000 and included direct cash contribution to their campaigns. In addition to direct financial support, we provided our candidates with digital advertising, billboard advertising, direct mail, data, volunteers, text advertising, social media campaigns, email campaigns, fundraising assistance, donor introductions, discounted postage and other invaluable assistance. This was aggressive, comprehensive and the first time the Party had ever leaned into promoting the will of delegates following convention. As a result, convention winners won a majority of primaries against signature gathering candidates.
In 2016, delegates forced our incumbent GOP Governor into a primary against Jonathan Johnson. He was just as qualified and capable as any of the Republican candidates selected by the delegates at the last convention. As we all know, Gov. Herbert went on to win the Republican primary by 44 points; last year’s primary was won by the incumbent governor by just 8 points. In another example, Congressman Mike Kennedy, despite facing four signature gathering candidates in last year’s primary, won by a wide margin. State school board convention winners, many facing incumbents, were also victorious. Where our convention winners came up short, the gaps have been closed through strong party engagement.
We are making progress, and now is the time to lean in, unite and build on our progress, not risk it with infighting. I believe I am the best candidate in this race to obtain a legislative solution to the laws that we oppose because of my track record over the last two years. I have built collaborative relationships with legislators while being firm in my positions; this approach has allowed for meaningful, difficult conversations. I have actively prevented further destructive legislation and have helped get election integrity, transparency, and party-empowering legislation passed.
I believe I can do the same to protect, promote and preserve the caucus and convention system. As your Chairman, we will organize and mobilize our precincts to promote our platform and grow participation, while building a bigger, stronger party that supports convention winners with the resources and tools needed to win primary elections.
Please continue to reach out to me if you have any questions about my campaign, our party or the upcoming state convention on May 17.
Robert Axson
Chairman, Utah Republican Party