Natalie Cline loses bid for re-election in Salt Lake County GOP Convention

SALT LAKE CITY – Natalie Cline has been unsuccessful in her re-election bid to remain on the Utah State Board of Education.

Amanda Bollinger unseated Cline during the Salt Lake County Republican Convention on Saturday.

#BREAKING: Natalie Cline has lost her re-election bid. @DrABBollinger has unseated Cline at the SLCO GOP convention. @KSL5TV #utpol pic.twitter.com/SG8lTv3enk

— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) April 13, 2024

Delegates at Saturday’s event gave Cline 123 votes, or about 37%. Bollinger got 211 votes but getting more than 63% makes him the GOP nominee.

“It means people care about kids, and it means people are willing to trust me to help restore public education confidence in our system. And they trust their children’s hands in my hands. So it means a lot,” said Bollinger after his victory.

Republican delegates – who are often more conservative than Republican primary voters – they were faced with the task of keeping Cline in his seat. He did not collect signatures, meaning he had to win at least 40 percent of the vote to advance to the June primary. Bollinger said delegates chose a less extreme candidate and that delegates and parents, “made a statement.”

“It was a lot of us who were quiet coming forward and they, you know, haven’t been involved and now they know they need to come out and have a voice to make sure that their values ​​are represented,” Bollinger said.

“I think I mean, we know the parents are there and our members are making a statement that our goal is to protect our children and that we want to make sure they are safe at school and we who are the leaders also give priority.” the safety of our students,” he added.

Cline was seen leaving immediately after the race. Even before the loss, KSL TV contacted Cline in person, who declined to be interviewed.

During his address to delegates, Cline said divisive ideologies are being taught in Utah schools.

“There are divisive ideologies being taught, a perversion of the type of mental health treatment in our schools that tries to change their attitudes, values, beliefs, behavior and behavior to fit the government’s definition. – values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of the government – turning our children into activists, encouraging them to be active in social change inside and outside of school. And this is not right. This is not a professional quality. This is indoctrination. And it should be stopped,” Cline said.

What’s happening now: Natalie Cline and her opponent @DrABBollinger both have spoken to delegates in their race to become Republicans running for a state School board seat.

Cline has to beat 40% support here or he’s done. pic.twitter.com/suKfOHSzmZ

— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) April 13, 2024

In other convention news Saturday, Erin Rider emerged as the GOP candidate to try to unseat Democratic Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson in the November election. Rider got about 78% of delegate support to avoid a primary.

Salt Lake County Republicans will decide Natalie Cline’s political future