Citizens Turn Out for Community Caucus Nights Across Castle Country

Both Republican and Democratic parties in Carbon and Emery Counties held caucus events to select delegates and nominees ahead of the June primary election.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:00am

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Communities across Carbon and Emery Counties in Utah gathered on Tuesday, March 17, as the Republican and Democratic parties hosted their community caucus nights, a major step leading up to the June 23 primary election. The Carbon County Republican Caucus attracted hundreds of residents to select precinct representation, spurred by a spike in registered Republican voters. The Carbon County Democratic Caucus saw around 60 attendees, contributing to the largest statewide Democratic caucus turnout since 2016. In Emery County, the Republican Party operated in nine separate locations to encourage more participation. The parties will now hold their county conventions to decide which candidates will represent them in each race.

Why it matters

The community caucus nights mark an important part of the electoral process in Utah, allowing local residents to get involved in selecting party delegates and nominees. The high turnout, especially for the Republican Party in Carbon County, suggests increased political engagement in the region ahead of the primary and general elections.

The details

At the Carbon County Republican Caucus, attendees were encouraged to get to know the individuals running for precinct positions, as delegates are elected to represent the will and values of their precincts. Candidates seeking the party's nomination for county commission, sheriff, and state house also took the stage. For the Carbon County Democrats, around 60 people participated, contributing to the largest statewide Democratic caucus turnout since 2016. In Emery County, the Republican Party operated in nine separate locations to encourage more participation.

  • The community caucus nights were held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • The Carbon County Republican Convention will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The Emery County Republican Convention will take place on April 9, 2026.
  • The Carbon County Democratic Convention will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Carbon County Republican Party

The local Republican party organization in Carbon County, Utah.

Carbon County Democratic Party

The local Democratic party organization in Carbon County, Utah.

Emery County Republican Party

The local Republican party organization in Emery County, Utah.

Kourtney Cox

Vice-Chair of the Carbon County Republican Party.

Allan Sumnall

Chair of the Carbon County Democratic Party.

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What they’re saying

“Because of your participation, newly elected state and county delegates are ready to engage with their precinct members. New precinct chairs and vice chairs are stepping into leadership roles as members of the Carbon County Republican Party Central Committee, representing their precincts and carrying local priorities forward.”

— Carbon County Republican Party

“They are not elected to push individual agendas. They are not elected to act independently of their Precinct. Delegates are elected to represent the will and the values of their precincts. This is a responsibility. This is not an award for being elected tonight.”

— Kourtney Cox, Vice-Chair, Carbon County Republican Party

“I think people are just disappointed and frankly exhausted with current affairs. Americans are better than this. We need to find ourselves again.”

— Allan Sumnall, Chair, Carbon County Democratic Party

What’s next

The Carbon County Republican Convention will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, where delegates will decide which candidates will represent the party in each race. The Emery County Republican Convention will take place on April 9, 2026. The Carbon County Democratic Convention will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

The takeaway

The high turnout and increased political engagement seen at the community caucus nights in Carbon and Emery Counties suggest that local residents are eager to have a voice in the electoral process and shape the future of their communities.