Summit County GOP files complaint over misleading election-eve text message

Photo: TownLift file

PARK CITY, Utah — The Summit County Republican Party has filed a formal complaint with the Utah Lieutenant Governor’s Office after a political text message sent on the eve of Park City’s municipal election falsely suggested the party was endorsing candidates in the nonpartisan races.

The message, titled “GOP Voting Alert,” appeared to urge support for specific mayoral and city council candidates, despite the county GOP having made no endorsements and maintaining neutrality throughout the election cycle, the party said. The text also lacked the legally required “paid for by” disclosure.

According to the GOP’s statement, the message was primarily sent to Democratic voters in Park City. Because the mayoral race, currently separated by an unofficial margin of 11 votes, party officials said the timing and misleading nature of the message raise concerns about potential interference.

“We believe the outcome of the election may have been different as a result of this text message,” the party said.

The complaint filed with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office requests an investigation into who funded and distributed the message, whether state disclosure and campaign communication laws were violated, and whether the text was intended to mislead voters.

“Election integrity matters,” the party wrote. “Voters deserve transparency and honest communication.”

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office has not yet commented on the complaint.

According to unofficial results posted by the Summit County Clerk’s Office, Ryan Dickey holds a narrow lead — 1,701 votes to Jack Rubin’s 1,690. However, officials say the outcome won’t be certified until November 18, after remaining ballots are verified and counted.