A Democratic Party leader in Utah announced that he was resigning his position as Chairman on Friday — and effective on midnight he’ll be stepping down.
Party Chair Jeff Merchant put out a press release that he was stepping away from politics effective Sep. 29th.
Merchant said he is quitting to focus on health issues and that he will be temporarily replaced by Democratic Party Party Vice Chair Diane Lewis until a new chairman is selected by the Utah Democratic Party Central Committee.
“It has been among the greatest joys of my life to serve Utahns as your state party chair,” Merchant said in a statement. “While today I humbly offer my resignation in order to attend to my personal health, the work that must be done in our state and across our nation to protect our most vulnerable communities will continue on.”
“I know that I leave the party in good hands with Diane Lewis, who will become acting Chair until confirmed by the Central Committee,” his statement continued. “Diane is a storied leader in our state’s labor movement and Democratic Party, and I believe that under Diane’s leadership, our party will continue to build on the gains that we have made in 2020.”
“I’m excited for this new chapter for the party and will remain a staunch supporter of our mission and our organizing.”
Merchant, a moderate, took control of the state party in 2019 after ousting incumbent Daisy Thomas at a convention at Park City High School.
Thomas, a far-left progressive and Bernie Sanders supporter, was heavily criticized for a financial crisis that developed during her tenure.
A successful businessman from Holladay, Utah, Merchant won the party chairman position with more than 76 percent of the votes.
According to his party biography ––
The son of a Pakistani immigrant, Jeff was born and raised in Utah and has been a life-long Democrat. He got his start in politics working on a congressional race that took him across the state. As an attorney, he has worked on environmental issues like wetlands preservation and promoted communities of color as part of the Minority Bar Association. As a small business owner, he runs a healthcare company that works with seniors throughout Utah to help them navigate the increasingly complicated web of social security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Jeff, his wife Emily, and their daughters Mia, Maggie, and Elsie live in Holladay along with their two dogs, Mikado and Major. In his spare time, Jeff likes to tell dad jokes, cook, and try to grow bonsai trees.
Jeff ran for UDP Chair to strengthen our party, elect more Democrats, and make a better Utah. His priorities as Chair include rebuilding trust in the party, working with county leadership to develop and support strategies that get candidates elected, eliminating existing party debt, and building a stronger party staff.
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