Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin has qualified for the Utah ballot, possibly signaling an electoral upset in the state this November. Despite the fact that Utah has not tilted for the Democratic candidate in a presidential election since 1964, Republican nominee Donald Trump has polled so underwhelmingly with the Mormon community that the Beehive State is an outside upset chance for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
McMullin, a conservative Mormon who was born Utah, is a relative unknown in the political sphere and a longshot for the presidency, but he could potentially prevent Trump from winning Utah's six electoral votes if he splits conservative support. "People close to the effort suggested McMullin would have the backing of serious Republican donors and fundraisers," BuzzFeed reported earlier this month. Anti-Trump conservatives have reached out to 2012 nominee Mitt Romney for support, although so far he has not offered an endorsement of McMullin.
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