With both the republican and democratic state conventions scheduled for May 8th at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center (different rooms, however), Saturday promises to a day filled with posturing, speech making, and a little bit of voting.

Utah five term democrat Jim Matheson made a lot of people in the party unhappy with his vote against healthcare reform. Liberal party members are tired of his voting record looking more republican than democrat.

Claudia Wright represents the liberal end of Utah's democratic spectrum, and she plans to challenge Matheson at the convention. Campaign finance reform, banks being held responsible for their part in the economic meltdown, and mine safety enforcement are some of her prime issues. Backed by Carbon County, a very democratic part of District 2, Wright will have support from a larger than usual delegation from that county - 38 instead of a dozen or so.

The convention will also be deciding on a senatorial candidate - local businessman Sam Granato will face off with Chris Stout, an accountant from Murray. A candidate must win 60% of the delegate vote in order to not face a primary election on June 22nd.

The democratic convention delegates can register beginning at 9 a.m., and caucuses will begin at 9:30 Saturday morning. All delegates will meet together at 11 a.m. and after hearing from the candidates, will begin voting at 1:45 p.m. There will be 2,537 candidates at the democratic convention, 1,136 can vote in the District 2 race.

Republicans will begin taking credentials at 7 a.m., and will meet together at 10 a.m. Around 3,500 republican delegates are expected to attend.

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