Utah’s Forward Party delegates voted to nominate no one in two 2026 races—including the newly drawn 1st Congressional District—leaving the party off the ballot.
Delegates chose the “No Candidate at this Time” option over January Walker for the CD 1 nomination.
Walker previously ran as the United Utah Party’s nominee in 2022 and in the 2023 special election to replace former Rep. Chris Stewart after his resignation. The UUP merged with the Forward Party last year.
The party is not fielding candidates in any other congressional races during the 2026 midterms.
Party Chair Michelle Quist defended the decision by the delegates not to field a candidate.
“Our process gives voters a real choice, including the choice not to nominate anyone,” party Chair Michelle Quist said in a news release, adding that in CD 1 “the voters, not party bosses, made the decision.”
Cache County delegates also declined to advance Ben Shaw in state House District 3, leaving Republican Jason Thompson and unaffiliated candidate Patrick Bellmont as the only candidates in that race.
If you have a news tip that we should investigate, email us at tips@utahpolitics.news or send your tip through our secure online form.
