Diane Lewis (politician)

Diane Lewis
Chair of the Utah Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
2021
Preceded byJeff Marchant
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic

Diane Lewis is an American trade unionist and politician currently serving as Chair of the Utah Democratic Party.

Early life

Lewis was born in Illinois but moved to California and she was raised in the greater Los Angeles area before moving to Utah in 1999.[1]

Career

Lewis has worked for the Laborers' International Union of North America for many years.[2] She made history becoming the first woman to be elected as a secretary-treasurer of a labor union in the state of Utah.[3]

Lewis was a candidate in the 2020 Utah House of Representatives election in District 43 but was defeated by Republican Cheryl Acton.[4] She was an unsuccessful candidate for the same seat in 2014 losing to Earl Tanner.[5]

In 2021, Lewis became interim chair of the Utah Democratic Party following the resignation of Jeff Marchant.[6] She had previously been vice-chair.[7] In 2023, she was re-elected.[8] In 2023, she organised a virtual convention for the state party.[9]

Lewis oversaw the 2024 Utah Democratic presidential primary.[10] Lewis endorsed the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign.[11] In July 2024 with the withdrawal of Biden from the election, Lewis paid tribute to the president but did not immediately endorse the campaign of Kamala Harris.[12] She later endorsed the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign alongside the entire Utah delegation.[13]

References

  1. ^ Scadden, Will (2023-09-08). "Fire at Will: Utah Democratic Party executive chair Diane Lewis". TownLift, Park City News. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  2. ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger (May 22, 2023). "Utah Democrats reelect Diane Lewis as party chairwoman". www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  3. ^ Scadden, Will (2023-09-08). "Fire at Will: Utah Democratic Party executive chair Diane Lewis". TownLift, Park City News. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  4. ^ "Utah's 2020 local elections: Democrats on track to pick up 3 seats in the House". Deseret News. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  5. ^ "Earl Tanner". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  6. ^ "Longtime Utah representative, House chair of redistricting committee, leaves Legislature for state job". Deseret News. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  7. ^ "Utah Democratic Party Chair Jeff Merchant resigns". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  8. ^ Schill, Charlie (2023-05-22). "Utah Democrats vote to re-elect Diane Lewis as state party chair". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  9. ^ Jones, Mark (2023-06-27). "Utah Democratic Party to hold virtual convention Wednesday night". KSLNewsRadio. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  10. ^ "UTAH DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT BIDEN ON PRIMARY VICTORY". Utah Democratic Party. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  11. ^ KUTV, Daniel Woodruff (2023-08-07). "Utah Democratic Party leader ready to welcome Biden to Utah". KUTV. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  12. ^ "Utah Democrats 'disappointed,' 'in shock' by Biden decision". Deseret News. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  13. ^ "Letter of Support and Endorsement for VP Harris from Utah Delegation". Utah Democratic Party. Retrieved 2024-08-12.