ABC 4's Chris Vanocur speaks with Jim Dabakis, Utah's new Democratic chair, who spent five months campaigning across Utah for election.
A minority of Utahns identify as being Democrats, which pales in comparison to the Republican Party largely because of right-handed LDS members being the majority of Utah's population. As long as those statistics stay that way, the odds of a Democrat winning elections is very slim and Dabakis aspires to change that.
The Democratic Party in Utah is described by Dabakis as "moderate and reasonable" while also retaining vigor. He expresses concern about the liberalism of Utah's Republican Party.
As pointed out by Dabakis, Utah Democrats differ from national Democrats, especially those on the east and west coasts. The Democratic Party in Utah is more conservative but still believes in the same basic Democratic principles, such as fair wages for the working public and having health care available to children. The Utah Democratic Party is "the party of moderation and getting things done," according to Dabakis.
A proclaimed "political junkie", Dabakis is focusing his efforts on getting LDS members more involved with the Democratic Party. He is striving for LDS members, whom he sees as neither radical nor extremist, to understand that the left wing wants their energy and enthusiasm on their side in elections as well.
