Press Article: Increasing Calls to Unseat Rep. Mike Lee Following Controversial Remarks
The campaign to unseat Republican Representative Mike Lee of Utah is gathering momentum after his controversial comments regarding the recent shootings of Minnesota politicians. Last week, Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were tragically killed in their home, while State Senator John Hoffman survived being shot. In the aftermath, Lee posted on X, suggesting that the incident stemmed from "Marxists" not getting their way, alongside a photo of the alleged shooter, Vance Boelter, which he titled "Nightmare on Waltz Street"—a reference to Democratic Governor Tim Walz.
The backlash was immediate and severe, as state and federal lawmakers criticized Lee for trivializing the tragedy. Utah State Senator Nate Blouin reported receiving numerous messages urging accountability. Many constituents are now expressing their desire to support efforts to unseat Lee, highlighting a growing dissatisfaction among voters.
While Blouin doubts a Democrat could win at the statewide level, he is open to rallying behind an independent challenger to oust Lee. “We’re not going to win with a Democrat right now in Utah… we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he admits.
Furthermore, a staffer for Minnesota Senator Tina Smith criticized Lee for exacerbating the grief of those affected by the shootings. The staffer called his remarks "unconscionable" and accused him of exploiting the tragedy for social media engagement.
The fallout from Lee’s posts has ignited a sense of urgency among Utah Democrats and allies, with Gabi Finlayson, a Democratic consultant, stating, “It is a moral imperative” to remove him from office. The Independent has reached out to Lee’s office for comment as this political movement gains momentum.
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