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Utah Democrats choose independent as candidate for US Senate

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) 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) Delegates attend the Utah Republican Party nominating convention, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Sandy, Utah. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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)