GOP state delegate asked to resign after appearing in ad against Sen. Mike Lee

But Andrea Miller said she won’t resign because she doesn’t believe she broke any party rules.

“I am so disappointed. (And) I won’t be resigning,” she told KSL. “I was voted in, and I signed saying I would do a two-year term and I don’t see any reason for me to resign. I’m not breaking any of the rules.”

On TikTok, Miller shared what it was like to receive an email from her precinct chairperson.

@shop.lemonwood Where are my fellow moderates at? This is why republicans are falling into extremism across the country. #republican #moderate #humansagainstmikelee #utpol ♬ original sound – Lemonwood by Andrea Miller

“He says and I quote: ‘Although you are free to support anyone you wish it is a conflict of interest with this position as a Republican precinct representative,’” Miller said in the social media post.

The email, which Miller shared with KSL, said precinct members asked for Miller’s resignation because she’s publicly supporting independent candidate Evan McMullin.

“If I was paid person or a state party officer or (national) committee member then I couldn’t publicly oppose Mike Lee. But I’m not,” Miller added on TikTok.

State delegate bylaws

Box Elder Republican Party Chairman Dale Millsap said he searched bylaws for both the county party and the state GOP.

“I don’t find any language within any of those governing documents of our party that require that somebody express public support for the party candidate,” he told KSL.

Further, Millsap said he, as the chairman, does not expect “party purity” either.

“I believe in the principles of the party. But I don’t think principles of the party demand that we expect this kind of purity from somebody who’s a delegate,” Millsap said.

Millsap added that he hopes there can be more talking between people who disagree. He planned to reach out to Miller and the precinct chairperson who wrote the email and talk things through.

“To demand that you come along to my way of thinking isn’t typically a good way to win hearts and influence people,” Millsap added.

Miller said she emailed a response on Thursday saying that she won’t be stepping down. 

“I think a lot of the Republican Party right now thinks you have to fall in line or get out. And I don’t think that’s how it needs to be,” Miller said.

State GOP reaction

After learning of the situation from KSL, Republican Party Chair Carson Jorgansen said he did not think that Miller should be asked to resign for her criticism of Mike Lee.

“There is plenty of room for difference of opinion,” he told KSL in a text message.

However, he added he does believe Miller is violating the delegate pledge, an agreement he said is signed by delegates when they agree to be a representative. He provided a welcome letter highlighting the section where he believes she is in violation.

“I do believe she is violating that good faith agreement she made to represent the party, when she is actively campaigning for another candidate and promoting another party as well,” he said.

“We operate in good faith that our delegates will like up to the commitment that they signed up for on caucus night.”