EDUCATOR, ADVOCATE, UNION MEMBER

About Susan

I’m a lifelong educator, a proud union member, and a connector at heart. My career has been dedicated to helping the unseen, championing the underdog, and tackling complex challenges head-on. In my time working with the National Delegation in Chicago and with our local and state party, I have learned the importance of leading with hope. I believe in order for us to be the party that changes the trajectory in which we’re headed, we need to attract people who are disengaged and looking for support. I believe that real change starts with strong connections between communities, leaders, and the grassroots voices that power our party.

I’m not your typical politician, and that’s exactly why I’m running. Our party needs fresh leadership that listens, strategizes, and builds a stronger, more inclusive future. We need to expand the party beyond the Wasatch front as rural voices are the key to turning Utah purple. As Vice Chair, I will work to expand our reach, energize our base, and ensure that every Democrat in Utah has a seat at the table. Let’s move forward – together.

WHY I AM RUNNING

PRIORITIES

Transparency & Visibility

We need a new approach, rooted in honesty, transparency, and visibility that stands on strong Democratic values. 

Candidate Support

We need to better support candidates, not just tell them “good luck.” This means not only recruiting, but launching candidates, providing easily accessible and digestible resources, contacts with interested donors, and proactively communicating throughout the campaign to see how the party can support.

Rural Communities

Utah needs rural communities to turn pink in order to turn purple as a state. We need to energize rural communities by amplifying their voices and needs at the state and national level. We need to connect rural counties with strategies and events that have worked in other counties, allowing them to bring trainings and other ideas to their location inexpensively/free.

Balance

The party leadership needs balance. Susan is able to represent rural interests while understanding and working with urban needs. Susan stands on her progressive values. Rural + progressive leads to action at the grassroots level, and this grassroots energy leads to Dems getting seen, even elected. This is the movement necessary for deep red areas that feel ignored to become seen, move the areas pink, break the supermajority, and eventually get the state purple.

Delegates choose party leadership & Candidates

BECOME A DELEGATE TODAY!

If you don’t see a convention in your county, or do not get a response from your county party leaders, please feel to reach out and we’ll help you get the assistance you need.

ENDORSEMENTS

Utah State Progressive Caucus

Utah State Democratic Education Caucus

Young Democrats of Utah

Utah Democratic Party Disability Caucus

Kael WestonSummit County

U.S. Senate Candidate

2020 Candidate for US House, 2022 Candidate for US Senate, Founder: Democrats Abroad (Iraq), Recipient: Award for Heroism

Schuyler RhodesIron County

State Delegate

Iron County Democratic Party Chair, Author

Emily DeanIron County

State Delegate

Iron County Democratic Party Treasurer

Michael PapineauSevier County

State Delegate

Sevier County Democrats, Chair

Kylee HowellCarbon County

State Delegate

Owner/Operator of Friar Tuck’s Barbershop, Marketing Director for Carbon County Democrats

Mitchell ViceSalt Lake County

PLEO Delegate

Utah State Progressive Caucus Chair. Former Board Member Women’s Democratic Club of Utah.

Angel ViceSalt Lake County

PLEO Delegate

Utah Democratic Woman’s Caucus Chair. Former Board Member Woman’s Democratic Club of Utah.

Steve MerrillIron County

State Delegate

Former candidate for Utah House District 71, 2024 DNC Delegate, Utah State Progressive Caucus Vice Chair, Rural Caucus Secretary

Leigh WashburnIron County

State Delegate

Rules Committee Chair

Mike KeilIron County

State Delegate

Former chair of Tooele County Democratic Party. Former UDP Western Region Coordinator. Former candidate, Utah Senate District 17.

Aidan RoustanIron County

State Delegate

President of the College Dems Club at SUU

Mark MumfordUtah County

State Delegate

Utah County Democratic Party Secretary

Stephanie FloresIron County

State Delegate

Iron County Democratic Party Secretary

Dave AdmireIron County

State Delegate

Dallas GuymonIron County

State Delegate

Former candidate for Utah House District 71

Mindie BirdsallIron County

State Delegate

Iron County Democratic Party Communications Chair

Terry WhitehatSan Juan County

State Delegate

R. Scott PhillipsIron County

State Delegate

Cedar City Council Member

Sharyl AdmireIron County

State Delegate

Marilyn BoudreauIron County

State Delegate

Dan BoudreauIron County

State Delegate

Joe SestayIron County

Former State Delegate

Member of Iron County Democratic Party Communications Committee

Tina DickinsonIron County

State Delegate

Iron County Democratic Party Fun Czar

Angie KeilIron County

State Delegate

Lucy Tayco PriceIron County

State Delegate

Author of The Dova Chronicles Series

Bruce WashburnIron County

State Delegate

HD71 Legislative Chair

Kirk ColtonWeber County

State Delegate

Stacy PapineauSevier County

State Delegate

Jacob LawsonSalt Lake County

State Delegate

Former candidate West Jordan City Council, Former candidate Utah Democratic Party Chair, Labor organizer, Salt Lake County Citizens Advisory Council Chair

KarenAnn RoodIron County

State Delegate

Christine Burnham HelfrichSalt Lake County

State Delegate

Louise EdingtonSalt Lake County

State Delegate

Kristin MeyerSalt Lake County

State Delegate

Courtney VillanuevaIron County

State Delegate

Augustus VillanuevaIron County

State Delegate

Q DangSalt Lake County

State Delegate

Former Salt Lake County Democratic Party Chair

Dr. Jo CampbellWashington County

State Delegate

Washington County Democratic Party Vice Chair

CJ WilkinsonSalt Lake County

Former State Delegate

Kelty LittrellIron County

Cedar City Drag Queen

SUU Pride and Equity Club Vice President

Felix OstromWashington County

State Delegate

College Dems @ SUU Vice Chair

Caralee WoodsKane County

Kane County Democratic Party Chair

Rural Caucus Chair

Angela CharlesSalt Lake County

Union Builder

UDP Vice Chair Candidate (former)

Glenn WrightSummit County

State Delegate

former Candidate Congressional District 3, Former Summit County Council member, former Board Member Utah Association of Counties, former Chair of County Chairs, Vietnam Veteran

Carla WrightState Delegate

Salt Lake County

Co-owner, Salt City Strategies

Jonathan LarsenSalt Lake County

2026 Candidate for US House (CD2)

Treycin MeachumDuchesne County

Duchesne County Democratic Party Vice-Chair

Vince OlsonKane County

HD69 Chair

Former Kane County Democratic Party Chair

DO YOU WANT TO ADD YOUR ENDORSEMENT?

CLICK HERE

Get in touch

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Follow my Socials…

Facebook

Tiktok

Bluesky



susan@merrill4utah.com