Candidates for Public Office
Between the Grassroots and the Governor: Dan McCay’s Candid Reflection on SB54
In this sweeping profile, Utah Senator Dan McCay reflects on his journey from a Navy family and a mission to India to the heart of the Capitol. With candor and conviction, he revisits the legacy of Senate Bill 54, tensions in the GOP, and the future of election integrity—offering a principled yet pragmatic vision for Utah’s political evolution.
A deep dive into the life, values, and legislative legacy of one of Utah’s most thoughtful conservatives
In a candid and wide-ranging studio interview with PoliticIt, Utah State Senator Dan McCay sat down to reflect on the personal experiences, public service, and policy battles that have defined his journey from a humble working-class childhood to becoming one of the state’s most influential and introspective lawmakers.
PoliticIt Radio – Long Roads Hard Truths – The Dan McCay Song
With clarity, humility, and conviction, McCay offers a window into Utah’s political transformation—especially surrounding election reform—while grounding his views in the lived realities of family, faith, and fiscal conservatism. His reflections span everything from Senate Bill 54 to his mission in India, revealing a public servant who remains committed to the principles that first drew him into politics—even when acknowledging past missteps.
A Childhood in Transit: Eleven Schools, One Lesson
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, McCay’s upbringing was marked by constant movement. His father served in the Navy, and the family shuttled between Missouri and San Diego depending on his parents’ relationship. He would attend eleven schools in thirteen years, an experience that might have destabilized some but instilled in McCay adaptability, resilience, and a unique empathy for people from all walks of life.
His mother’s example looms large. She worked graveyard shifts in a factory to keep food on the table and modeled the value of hard work, sacrifice, and grit.
“My mom was working the overnight shift while raising three boys. I thought I understood struggle.”
But that perception would soon be challenged—and transformed.
“I Found Out What It’s Really Like”: A Mission to India
At age 19, McCay served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangalore, India. It was a transformative experience. There, he taught in English but lived among the urban poor—witnessing first-hand the depth of global poverty and the strength of the human spirit in the face of it.
“I thought I was poor growing up. Then I went to India, and I saw people with nothing—smiling, faithful, grateful. That changed me.”
That mission cemented what McCay describes as a lifelong ethos: “The world doesn’t owe me a doggone thing.” It also gave him global perspective—a humility and clarity about responsibility, gratitude, and opportunity that would shape both his worldview and political compass.
From Frozen Hair to Family and Law: Building a Life in Utah
After returning from India, McCay hadn’t initially planned to attend college. But watching peers progress inspired him to shift direction. He enrolled at Grossmont College in California and transferred to Utah State University, where he studied history and economics. Later, he completed a master’s degree in instructional design and eventually attended Willamette University College of Law in Oregon.
It was in Logan, Utah, that McCay experienced another culture shock—one defined by temperature. Coming from sunny California, he arrived in the dead of winter wearing shorts. His hair literally froze in the cold mountain air.
But he fell in love with the state and the people—and with Tawny, who was completing her MBA. They were engaged after just one month, and McCay describes the decision as instantaneous and irrevocable: “I just knew.”
Together, they’ve raised six children in Utah, where McCay has built careers in law, real estate, and public service.
Thrown Into the Fire: From Delegate to Legislator
McCay’s political career began with a moment of sudden opportunity. In 2012, State Representative Carl Wimmer resigned to run for Congress, opening a seat mid-session. McCay, who had served as a delegate in 2010 and supported Mike Lee’s Senate campaign, jumped in. He won the special election outright on the first ballot—despite never having stepped foot inside the Capitol.
“I was sworn in and casting votes the next day. There was no orientation. You learn fast—or you fail.”
McCay would go on to serve seven sessions in the Utah House, where he focused on education, tax reform, and elections. In 2018, he moved to the Utah Senate, replacing the retiring Senator Howard Stevenson. The move was strategic. The west side of Salt Lake County was growing rapidly, and McCay felt it deserved stronger conservative representation.
Redistricting later expanded his district to cover what he calls “two and a half seats”, including some of the fastest-growing and most politically complex areas in the state.
Senate Bill 54: Reform, Regret, and Republican Tension
Arguably no issue has defined McCay’s legislative career more than Senate Bill 54, passed in 2014. The bill created Utah’s now-infamous dual-path ballot system, allowing candidates to reach the primary either by winning over party delegates or by gathering voter signatures.
It was meant to defuse a political bomb: the “Count My Vote” initiative, which sought to abolish conventions altogether. SB54 was a compromise designed to preserve the convention system while expanding access.
But in hindsight?
“We regret it,” McCay says bluntly. “Both Curt Bramble and I wish we had let ‘Count My Vote’ go to the ballot.”
Though well-intentioned, SB54 created a lasting rift in the Republican Party—between grassroots delegates, who favor conventions, and moderate candidates, who often bypass them through signatures. The fallout has become a recurring source of drama and distrust within the Utah GOP.
The 2024 Flip: Phil Lyman, Mike Kennedy, and GOP Fault Lines
McCay points to the 2024 cycle as a case study in the SB54 dilemma. Phil Lyman, running for governor, earned 67% of delegate support—a dominant convention performance. Yet the primary result shocked many, flipping away from him and revealing the gap between activist delegates and the broader base.
“It was the most energized grassroots campaign I’ve seen since SB54 passed—signs, shirts, a real ground game. But it didn’t translate to the win.”
McCay notes that after the convention, support fractured again during the Utah Republican Party chair race. A write-in candidate ultimately received over 200,000 votes—a first in state history.
“How you win—or lose—still matters,” McCay says. “Mike Kennedy lost to Mitt Romney in 2018, but he lost with grace. And that mattered.”
SB205: The Reform That Wasn’t
To address SB54’s weaknesses, McCay worked with then-GOP chair Derek Brown to draft Senate Bill 205, which would have created a third category of political party registration. It aimed to allow parties more flexibility—especially those wishing to rely solely on conventions.
The bill passed the Senate but was met with a veto threat from Governor Spencer Cox, leading to its collapse. Since then, efforts to overhaul SB54 have largely stalled.
“The wounds from SB54 run deep. There’s not much appetite for revisiting it—even though the problems persist.”
Signatures, Secrecy, and the Price of Ballot Access
McCay also highlights a little-known but significant problem: signature validation. Under current rules, candidates must gather tens of thousands of signatures—without knowing if any count until submission. One candidate reportedly spent an extra $50,000 just to “over-collect” for safety.
And a well-meaning privacy law, passed while McCay was in the House, made voter petition data confidential—meaning no outside group can verify signatures.
“We’ve created a system where trust is low, costs are high, and transparency is gone. That’s not good governance.”
Recent audits have even questioned whether Governor Cox himself qualified with enough valid signatures, raising alarms about systemic vulnerability.
Growth and Governance: Utah at a Crossroads
McCay remains optimistic about Utah’s trajectory but acknowledges deep challenges ahead. The state’s economic incentives have worked—drawing companies, capital, and families. But this success comes with strain: infrastructure, water, housing, and political culture are all under pressure.
He jokes that newcomers should “vote like Utahns,” but behind the humor is a real concern: that migration from progressive states could shift Utah’s foundational values.
Back to Basics: Three Questions That Guide Policy
As Utah navigates its future, McCay returns to three core principles:
Limited Government
Fiscal Conservatism
Long-Term Impact on Children
“If we can answer those three questions every time we vote, Utah will stay on the right track. It’s only when we walk away from those that we lose our way.”
Conclusion: From Bangalore to the Beehive
Senator Dan McCay’s story is one of reflection, resilience, and reform. He’s a conservative who admits legislative regrets, a party insider who respects grassroots dynamics, and a father of six whose politics are rooted in generational stewardship, not generational warfare.
In an era of populism and polarization, McCay offers a rare combination of candor, clarity, and conviction—a voice of reason in the often chaotic symphony of state politics.
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