This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
[Video: Dug up by David Leonhardt of The New York Times, this anti-Goldwater ad from 1964 might remind you of today's political dynamic.]
— Who is Evan McMullin? An unorthodox presidential contender who has led an unusual life — Matt Canham | The Salt Lake Tribune
" ... He tells crowds that he's a former-CIA-operative-turned-investment-banker. He's a one-time party insider disillusioned with Republican officials who were unwilling to challenge Trump, whom he denounces as a "racist." He also is a 40-year-old single Mormon, whose parents divorced and his mother married a woman. ..."
— Trump vs. McMullin roils Davis County GOP — Doug Gibson | Ogden Standard-Examiner
" ... Chairman Rob Anderson is accusing the Vice Chairwoman Natalie Gordon of violating the county party's rules by actively campaigning for independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and against Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump. ..."
— Evan McMullin Isn't Just Running For President — He's Literally Building A New Party — McKay Coppins | BuzzFeed
"SALT LAKE CITY — Evan McMullin sat at a conference table in his modest campaign headquarters here one morning last week, struggling to pick which high-profile Republican had most disappointed him this year.
"Can we just say 'all of the above'?" he asked, prompting giggles from the aides scattered throughout the room. ..."
— Utah: America's new political conscience as Never Trumpland — Joe Garofoli | The San Francisco Chronicle
"ST. GEORGE, Utah — In another head scratcher of a twist to this bizarre presidential campaign, not only is deep-red Utah suddenly a battleground state, but its voters seem to fancy themselves as America's political conscience — the last refuge of the Never Trump movement.
"However, their alternative choice isn't Hillary Clinton. It's independent Evan McMullin, a Mormon native of Utah and ex-CIA agent who worked for a while as an investment banker in San Francisco. ..."
— Why is my dad mad: Evan McMullin Edition — Ana Marie Cox | MTV News
" ... Mormons are uniquely sensitive to the plight of those persecuted because of their religion, seeing as how they were hounded out of the United States themselves not too long ago.
"Ah, so they see the kinds of things Trump has said about Muslims and think, That could be me.
"Right. It's weird how evangelical Christians don't have the same thought process, since they've had their share of persecution as well ..."
— Evan McMullin stokes some excitement in Utah — Jennifer Rubin | The Washington Post
" ... McMullin's effort is about sending a message, several actually. In no particular order, these would include: The GOP is politically and morally spent. If you cannot win Utah …"
— Evan McMullin, Independent #NeverTrump Candidate, Schools CNBC Hosts — Matt Wilstein | The Daily Beast
" ... Later when billionaire Trump supporter Ken Langone tried to defend his candidate by pointing to his recent call for term limits on members of Congress, McMullin said that while he too supports term limits, 'That's hardly an excuse for Donald Trump's candidacy, which has been a bigoted, misogynistic, xenophobic candidacy that has divided this country.' Even as a candidate for president, he said Trump 'has done enormous harm to our country'..."
— Danielle Kurtzleben | NPR News
" ... In a recent poll, only 19 percent of Utah Mormons saw Trump favorably. Meanwhile, white evangelicals nationwide have embraced Trump — in another recent poll, 68 percent of white evangelicals view him favorably. ..."
— Mike Pence to make campaign visit in bid to shore up Utah support — Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune
"... It is a rarity for such a high-profile figure to appear in Utah so near the election because Democrats have long conceded the state — but this year is different. ..."
— Top Democratic official Donna Brazile to rally Utah voters in toss-up contest — Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune
"Democratic National Chairwoman Donna Brazile will be in Utah on Thursday to rally voters as Democrats and Republicans and even an independent jostle to win Utah's six electoral votes, with the state up for grabs for the first time in more than half a century. ..."
— In early Utah turnout, a third more Democrats than expected have voted — Lee Davidson | The Salt Lake Tribune
— Donald Trump holds small lead in new poll of Utah — Matt Canham | The Salt Lake Tribune
" ... The survey comes from right-leaning Rasmussen Reports. It found Trump at 32 percent, independent conservative Evan McMullin at 29 percent and Democrat Hillary Clinton at 28 percent. ..."
— Dear Republican Voters ... — David Leonhardt | The New York Times
" ... For Republicans today, Trump is scarier than Goldwater. He is scarier because he resembles a double agent dreamed up by liberal screenwriters. He embodies almost every left-wing caricature of Republicans that Republicans despise. ..."
— Liberty University Students Want to Be Christians—Not Republicans — Emma Green | The Atlantic
" ... The old stomping ground of the religious right is becoming a different place. It's not that there's anything about the school that suggests conservative Christianity is in decline; in fact, Liberty has recently had some of the best years in its history, with construction booms and growing interest in its online-education program. But Liberty's students seem to want a new model for their Christian education—one that's less tied to Republican politics and more focused on Christ. ..."