Republicans’ Signature-Gathering Effort in Utah: A Potentially Chaotic Misadventure
National Republicans are pouring resources—both financial and human—into a down-ballot initiative aimed at reclaiming a congressional seat in Utah. However, the campaign is teetering on the brink of disaster.
As the February 15 deadline approaches, the party has only managed to collect half of the verified signatures necessary to advance their cause. Despite the backing of President Donald Trump and various MAGA factions, the initiative has descended into turmoil.
Local county clerks are raising alarms about hundreds of potentially fraudulent signatures. Reports indicate that individuals have been misled into signing the petition by signature-gatherers, with some claiming they were told the petition aimed to oppose ICE. Meanwhile, signature-gatherers have faced assaults and witnessed their collected signatures stolen or destroyed.
In a state often perceived as a bastion of amicable politics, the situation has become so volatile that Republican Governor Spencer Cox—who gained national attention for advocating civility following the tragic assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk—has urged Utahns to “resolve [their] disagreements peacefully.”
The GOP insists that they will eventually meet the necessary signature count, yet they remain far behind—a considerable embarrassment in a staunchly Republican state.
This initiative seeks to overturn a recently established congressional map that grants Democrats a secure blue seat by attempting to repeal an anti-gerrymandering law. This repeal would enable the Republican-controlled legislature to implement a more favorable map ahead of the 2028 elections. By November, Trump and his allies had already funneled $4.3 million into this initiative, with spending only increasing since then.
The signature-gathering campaign serves as an early test of the Republican Party’s grassroots mobilization in a midterm year where they face significant challenges in the polls.
Trump, alongside his son Donald Trump Jr., has publicly supported the Utah initiative, with Trump urging his followers on Truth Social to back the “very important effort” to “KEEP UTAH RED.”
Turning Point Action, the 501(c)(4) organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is fully invested in this campaign, according to their COO. They are canvassing the state through several events scheduled over the coming week. Approximately 700 paid workers—many from outside Utah—have been hired to collect signatures, funded by Securing American Greatness Inc., a 501(c)(4) previously managed by former Trump White House official Taylor Budowich. MAGA celebrity Scott Presler also made an appearance in the state last month to lend his support.
However, these efforts have yet to yield substantial results. As of Friday, the initiative had secured just over 76,000 verified signatures—about half of the more than 140,000 needed statewide for the measure to be placed on this November’s ballot. An independent analysis by journalist Bryan Schott shows the initiative is likely to fall short of the required thresholds, which demand signatures from eight percent of all active registered voters statewide and eight percent from at least 26 of the 29 Utah state Senate districts.
“The only thing that will matter is on the very last day, do we have enough signatures, and I strongly believe that we will,” asserted Brad Bonham, a Republican National Committeeman and initiative sponsor.
Proponents of the initiative argue that the lagging signature count is part of their broader strategy. Bonham claimed that they have “many, many thousands of signatures” currently undergoing independent verification that have not yet been submitted. Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Axson stated that “many tens of thousands” more signatures have been submitted to county clerks and are in the verification process.
“We feel very, very good about the strategy that we are executing on and the momentum that we’re building,” Axson stated.
However, a last-minute surge in submitted signatures could backfire, warned Elizabeth Rasmussen, executive director of Better Boundaries—a group opposing the repeal. Signers have a 45-day window following signature verification to withdraw their names, and Rasmussen’s group has mailed nearly 8,000 letters encouraging signers to rescind their support, with previous efforts resulting in over 500 signatures being removed.
Rasmussen expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s involvement, pointing out that his approval rating in Utah is at a record low. “We’re not seeing that as a value add, if anything,” she remarked.
The unfolding drama in Utah adds a curious chapter to the broader narrative of nationwide redistricting efforts. In 2018, Utah voters passed Proposition 4, creating an independent redistricting commission to curb partisan gerrymandering. Earlier this year, District Judge Dianna Gibson determined that the GOP-controlled state legislature did not comply with Prop 4 when it established four safe Republican districts in the 2022 map. After submitting a new map with four safe seats last fall, the judge opted for a different map that included a blue seat in Salt Lake County.
The GOP’s signature-gathering initiative aims to repeal Prop 4 and enable the legislature to redraw a map ahead of the 2028 election cycle. Should they gather the necessary signatures, the initiative will be put to a vote this November.
In Utah County, the state’s second-most populous area, clerks have identified hundreds of signatures as potentially fraudulent. Some appear to be forgeries, and when clerks contacted the purported signers, many denied ever signing the petition; others appear to be fictitious names and addresses.
“I think the signature gatherers are just trying to find an easy way to make money,” Aaron Davidson, the Utah County Clerk, stated.
On the other hand, Salt Lake and Davis county clerks—Utah’s first and third most populous counties—report no significant irregularities. “The number of alleged fraudulent voters that Utah County has found is startling,” noted Lannie Chapman, the Salt Lake County clerk. “We take this very seriously.”
Axson, the GOP state chair, mentioned that some signature-gatherers flagged by his team prior to submission were under review, and several paid gatherers suspected of fraud have already been terminated. “I don’t want a single fraudulent signature counted,” he emphasized.
“While it’s inevitable that a few bad actors will emerge in any large effort, what’s overlooked in these reports is that out of 3,000 participants, only a small handful are problematic,” Axson added.
As the signature drive enters its closing stretch, the tensions surrounding this initiative continue to escalate. “Violence is not the answer to any of this. I don’t understand anyone who would resort to such actions,” Bonham concluded, referencing the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk. “It’s bewildering what is happening in our own backyard.”
