Delegates are filling the Maverik Center for the @UtahGOP convention. Public health orders say gatherings of 50+ must wear masks but it’s very mixed today. @fox13 #utpol #Utah

In front of the main stage, there’s like a fog machine. @fox13 #utpol #Utah

. @MittRomney just appeared on an introductory video and the crowd at the @UtahGOP convention BOOED loudly. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Spotted in the audience at the @UtahGOP convention. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair comes out on the stage and jokes this is the largest crowd he's been in, in a year.

He thanks @kimfcoleman for pulling off the event. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"Thank you! Thank you for being here," @UTGOPChair says.

He gets emotional as he introduces @jonhawkins57 to give the invocation. Rep. Hawkins was recently released from the ICU for #COVID19. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Right now at the @UtahGOP convention, we're getting a musical number.

The big business today will be choosing a new state party chair, but we'll also hear from elected leaders and delegates may consider a motion to censure @SenatorRomney for his impeachment vote. @fox13 #utpol

. @UTGOPChair is back up to "The Final Countdown" (he is hours away from his term ending).

"That is NOT the song I chose," he jokes. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

We're awaiting the credentialing report (how many delegates are in attendance) so we're going to do the county roll call.

This is where the crowd gets pumped up as their county name is called. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

The biggest cheers in the delegate roll call came from Utah County.

Promotional videos for some of the rural counties. Sevier Co. makes a pitch for hosting a future convention with "how's your WiFi?"

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Cheers in the crowd as Washington Co.'s video plays the local song "Are You From Dixie?" a nod to the controversy surrounding the name of @DixieState.

Then a slightly cringey video for "Tayne County" (it's actually Wayne County).

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair asks the crowd if they want to spend "four hours debating stuff?"

A lot of "no" in the crowd. He basically tells the delegates they're in charge of how long this will last (and trust when I say prior conventions have gone on for HOURS). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

...aaaaand it took about a minute before I heard someone shout "point of order."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

#COVID19 restrictions mean NO food in the Maverik Center today.

That oughta move delegates along.

Credentialing report: 1,904 delegates here (that seems low compared to previous years). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Delegates can fight over the rules, or they can just vote and adopt them.

Delegate Andy Pierucci makes a motion to just "call the question" instead of having an hours-long fight.

"Let's just vote," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Delegates vote to just adopt the rules.

This is a very quick (and clever) way to avert a fight with some party hardliners and move the convention along. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Once again, a delegate does a "check" by calling the question on the @UtahGOP convention agenda.

This is going to shave HOURS off of today's convention.

"You have just done in 5 minutes what it took us 4 hours to do about 4 years ago," @UTGOPChair
says to cheers. @fox13 #utpol

This year, the @UtahGOP convention will use electronic voting (which is faster) but they will NOT use ranked-choice voting like they did last year (which is slower).

So there may be multiple rounds of balloting. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair now giving his report to the delegates.

He says he's gotten the party out of debt, raised over $1 million, and won elections.

He gets cheers from the delegates as he shows his homework. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair called the #UT4 race the most expensive in Utah history with over $20 million spent.

"I'm thrilled that we won," he says, but notes it was just over 3,700 votes.

He warns "there are storm clouds on the horizon." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Younger voters are NOT affiliating as Republicans, @UTGOPChair says.

"One by one by one the states around us have now flipped," he says.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair says they need to communicate their principles, quotes Reagan and says we need to understand that someone who agrees 80% of the time is their 80% friend/ally, not 20% their enemy.

He calls for unification in the GOP. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair warns that things are changing, even in Utah.

He hopes they remain "one of the brightest lights in that shining city on the hill."

The delegates give him a standing ovation. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair gets emotional as he thanks his family for their support over his term.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

HUGE cheers and a standing ovation as Utah's congressional delegation, led by @SenMikeLee, take the stage.

"This is why we love Utah!" he says to cheers.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee gives a shoutout to @UtahGOP leadership.

They're here with gifts for @UTGOPChair.

"If everyone in our party could be like Derek," Sen. Lee says. "He's a high-yield, low-maintenance leader."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

"I like Mike!" someone in the crowd shouts as @SenMikeLee leaves the stage.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

A children's choir will now perform, then I expect we will start to hear from Utah's elected leaders, starting with @GovCox.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Ambassador Robert O'Brien, who was President Trump's National Security Advisor, is up to speak to the crowd.

He says Utah has the best congressional delegation in the country (take THAT, Idaho and Wyoming!). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"I'm from California where's it's all locked down. To look around and see everyone, this feels like a Trump rally!" Ambassador O'Brien says to cheers.

He says President Trump sends his regards from Mar-a-Lago. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

So many Californians are moving to Utah, "you've got an opportunity to do some missionary work," Ambassador O'Brien says.

He says they can show how governing with conservative principles work. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Ambassador O'Brien shifts to some red meat topics, complaining about lockdowns, cancel culture, etc.

Applause is honestly mixed. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"In the Trump administration, we put America first, we didn't blame America first," Ambassador O'Brien says to much louder cheers from the crowd.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Ambassador O'Brien sounds like he's wrapping up. He urges the crowd to "take back the House and Senate."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @GovCox takes the stage to a mix of "woo" and "boo" in the crowd.

He's speed-talking (which the governor does when he wants to move it along).

He points out he implemented constitutional carry (to cheers), cut taxes, reducing government (applause). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @GovCox pivots to the pandemic and notes how many people died.

"We ARE getting back to normal," he says, talking about vaccines and thanking Operation Warp Speed.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

"I know some of you hate me for some of the decisions we've made," @GovCox says to cheers from the crowd.

But he defends his approach to keeping kids in schools and how they've handled things economically. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @GovCox says as of next Friday, public health will terminate and there will be NO masks next fall (to huge cheers).

He acknowledges the GOP is losing young people.

Some in the crowd keep want to shout at him. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @GovCox keeps talking over delegates who want to shout at him.

I can't even hear what the delegates are saying, just loud shouting.

The governor tells people to stop protesting at homes and go to a food bank. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @GovCox told the crowd to turn off cable news and get out and engage with people. He wraps up.

@SenMikeLee takes the stage and gets HUGE cheers and a standing ovation.

Like, ROCK STAR TREATMENT. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee immediately starts off talking about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

"Those in power restricted power. That almost never happens. But thank heaven above that it happened there!" he says to applause.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee talking about the Founders and American exceptionalism, and says there's faith "in the people and NOT the government."

Now he pivots to how the Left's agenda is placing "unquestionable trust in government." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee criticizes the "For the People Act," says Democrats want to pack the Supreme Court, jokes Joe Biden's political career began in the Taft administration, criticizes getting rid of the Electoral College and DC/Puerto Rico statehood. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee says one of his proudest days is when President Trump signed his criminal justice reform bill into law.

He notes he compromised with people like Sen. Booker to get the legislation passed. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee calls President Biden "today's expander in chief."

"Where you and I want more freedom, Joe Biden wants us dependent on government," he says.

Sen. Lee criticizes CDC as "all about the control and not much about the disease."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenMikeLee says when he's feeling low, he's buoyed up by the Utah GOP delegates.

He thanks them for who they are and what they do.

"I like Mike!" I hear a man shout.

He leaves the stage to cheers.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SenatorRomney is getting boo’d loudly at the @UtahGOP convention. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @UTGOPChair just had to intervene and tell the crowd to show respect.

It has now turned to heckling as @SenatorRomney tries to continue with his speech.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

As @SenatorRomney pivots to criticizing Biden, he gets applause.

He notes he was the GOP nominee for President of the United States.

There is a man in the Box Elder Co. delegation who is shouting so loudly a woman walked up to him to tell him to be quiet. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

OK, a group of people just walked up to that delegate and appeared to tell him to shut up.

I can still hear delegates heckle @SenatorRomney as he goes through his speech.

"We need to come together in strength and unity," he says, wrapping up.

More boos. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

I went backstage to try to see if I could talk to @SenatorRomney and I was told he has already left the Maverik Center.

Back on stage, @DeidreHenderson giving a speech calling for unity and an end to divisiveness. She's getting a lot of applause. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

A reminder, the @UtahGOP delegates will vote on a resolution to censure @SenatorRomney for his votes to impeach President Trump.

Now, @RepChrisStewart on stage, ditching the podium and his tie. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"Nancy Pelosi kind of sucks," @RepChrisStewart says.

He pivots to talking about the media who are "deceptive and biased."

"By the way, that includes some of our LOCAL media," he says.

He particularly criticizes @sltrib. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepChrisStewart now criticizing socialism, Green New Deal.

"The dumbest ideas in the world come out of Washington DC," he says to laughter from the crowd. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepChrisStewart says the Biden administration is a "radical administration."

He says GOP can come back.

"It's a new day. We can start again. We can fight again. We can win again with you people who care about your country," he says. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

A standing ovation for @RepChrisStewart.

Light applause as @RepBlakeMoore (one of Utah's newest congressional reps) takes the stage. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepBlakeMoore is giving what I'd call a very "freshman" congressional speech. A lot of thanks to delegates and people he's met along the campaign trail.

He says military, public lands, county assistance are top priorities. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepBlakeMoore now criticizing national spending and says he is trying to work in a bipartisan fashion to bring it down.

@RepBurgessOwens takes the stage now to a standing ovation from many of the delegates. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepBurgessOwens touts Utah's successes in his speech.

"We're the least racist state in the union and the least racist country in the entire world," he says to cheers. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @RepBurgessOwens says "do not apologize for who we are."

"We don't apologize to the racist Trib or bigots like Bagley," he says, referencing the political cartoon that caused a controversy among the congressional delegation. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

That was a very short speech for @RepBurgessOwens.

@RepJohnCurtis is not here, but he's got a video showing off the bills he's passed in his terms in Congress.

(This is a very John Curtis video, BTW.) @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Speaking in @RepJohnCurtis' stead are his surrogates who tout him as a "consensus builder."

Delegates, who are getting no food, appear to be tuning out as they're not hearing from the congressman himself.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Referencing the Jan. 6 riot, @RepJohnCurtis' staffers turn somber.

A woman in the crowd shouts at them, but I can't hear what she says.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SeanReyesUT takes the stage to a mix of "woos" and a couple of "boos."

He immediately addresses his work "addressing President Trump's election" and says he got threats for it but "I'm still standing tall." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SeanReyesUT discloses there were attempts to take his bar license and impeach him from office.

Cancel culture didn't work.

"I'm still here, fighting for you," he declares.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @SeanReyesUT's speech is very much a "fighter" kind of speech.

A side note: the AG's voice is very raspy.

"We must come forward together and on to victory!" he declares, walking off the stage.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Speeches from Utah's elected delegation are over.

We're now getting to the speeches by the party chair candidates and the elections (also known as THE MAIN EVENT). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @StewartPeay is up first, getting an endorsement from Sen. Kennedy (who put Sen. Romney in a primary via the Utah GOP convention a few years back). @fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @StewartPeay warns that CO, NV and AZ have turned blue and Utah could be next.

"I am ready to run to the battle," he says.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

"To remain united, we must listen and hear each other," @StewartPeay says. "Divisiveness and internal strife are far more dangerous to our party than any propaganda pushed by the Left."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

. @TinaCannonUtah gets an endorsement from retired Rep. Rob Bishop who calls her a "fearless fighter for Republican principles."

She begins by touting her support of the caucus-convention system. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"Principles matter. Standing on principles matter. And when we do, we win," @TinaCannonUtah says.

"I look better in blue," she quips. "But I am RED because I believe in the values of the Republican party." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Brad Baker, who says he's 22, actually encourages delegates NOT to vote for him (!).

He's talking about some of his ideas for future conventions, including increasing technology. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Delegates are giving Baker polite applause.

He then announces he's withdrawing and endorsing Carson Jorgensen. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Carson Jorgenson is on stage and crying.

"I'd rather be out herding sheep today, I really would!" he says to laughter. "But that's not what we need right now. We are at a crossroads." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Jorgenson makes reference to the @UtahGOP's internal fighting, but says he believes in solutions.

"Across this state it's pretty solid red," he says, pivoting to the pockets of "blue."

"I propose we have no county left behind." @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"Here we go again!" Jorgenson says as he starts tearing up again.

Delegates are giving him polite applause.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

We're now on to @UtahGOP Vice Chair speeches. I'm tuning out for a sec, so I can try to get other reports up on @fox13. #utpol #utgop

Final credential count: 2,145 delegates. Voting begins. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

GOP delegates are supposed to be voting electronically, but it appears some are having trouble right now. This is the line to the help desk. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

A Utah GOP delegate just walked up to us here on the convention floor and said "Gentlemen, despite them trashing journalists today, thank you for what you do."

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

Spotted on the lapel of a delegate to the @UtahGOP convention.

We're still waiting for voting results of the party leadership elections. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

We're still waiting for voting to wrap up on party leadership elections.

Meanwhile, the @UtahGOP delegates are taking up constitution bylaw changes.

They are inching closer to that censure of @SenatorRomney, but it's getting late in the day. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

A delegate immediately says "call the question."

He's basically cutting off debate.

Now a delegate complains he's never seen the constitution changes they're voting on. @UTGOPChair says they mailed them to all delegates a month ago. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

We're in the part of the afternoon when I can see many delegates already starting to drift out of the Maverik Center as delegates debate party constitution bylaw changes. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Here's the part where the delegates are leaving while others are digging in for some good ol' fashioned debate.

A reminder: No food was served at the convention so some delegates are HANGRY. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"Hey, please!" @UTGOPChair says trying to get control of this debate. "Children!"

They're debating bylaws dealing with the @UtahGOP's central committee and what constitutes a quorum. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

OK, voting for party leadership positions has CLOSED.

Hopefully results soon. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

This is the time of day I really feel for delegates from rural Utah who have traveled so far, and now have a really, really long drive home ahead of them. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

The @UtahGOP is now taking up the resolution censure @SenatorRomney.

Here it is. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Don Guymon, who is sponsoring it, says some say it's divisive but he believes it's about "unity."

Some delegates start shouting him down.

@UTGOPChair calls for order. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"I believe his votes helped embolden them to keep harassing President Trump," Guymon says.

@UTGOPChair cuts him off for time.

Now, the debate. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

A delegate speaks against the resolution.

"This is NOT the cancel culture party. This is the Republican party," he says to cheers.

Another delegate quotes Tucker Carlson to speak for the resolution. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Delegates are going THE ROUNDS y'all on this resolution to censure @SenatorRomney.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

It's hard to say where the delegates landed based on them standing.

It's going to be close. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

"It looks to me like the opposed is the majority," @UTGOPChair says.

That means the motion FAILS.

Someone calls division. 50+ people stand and they do a hand count. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Based on @UTGOPChair's call, the resolution to censure @SenatorRomney has FAILED.

But they are doing a hand count.

Delegates must now stand as volunteers do a head count. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

It really is hard to tell where we are with this count (I think it's THAT close). They're now counting those still opposed to the motion to censure @SenatorRomney.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

As we wait for results, a man has taken the mic to rail against people "have an R by their name."

He name checks @SenatorRomney
and @GovCox as those he considers "Democrats."

@UTGOPChair cuts him off. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

BREAKING NEWS: Resolution to censure @SenatorRomney for his votes to impeach President Trump has FAILED on 711-798 vote. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

JUST IN: Party leadership results:

Secretary - Olivia Dawn Horlacher

Vice-Chair - Jordan Hess

Second round of balloting for party chair.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

The party chair race is now between @StewartPeay and Carson Jorgenson.

@fox13 #utpol #utgop

The party chair candidates now get to give a second round of speeches. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

Voting is now open. Delegates are told they can vote and go home (as someone will get over 50%).

A reminder, the @UtahGOP delegates last year used ranked choice voting in their virtual convention last year.

The party opted not to use it this time. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

BREAKING NEWS: Carson Jorgenson wins @utahGOP Chair race. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

And that's Carson Jorgensen (the @UtahGOP's website misspelled the name of their own chair).

Everyone who won party leadership spots today was an upset. @fox13 #utpol #utgop

The new @UtahGOP leadership just met with reporters. Fun fact: Chair Carson Jorgensen is a sheep rancher by profession. @fox13 #utpol #utgop