With the largest youth population in the nation, Utah’s fast-changing demographics are reshaping its political landscape and opening the door to new possibilities.
Join us on Thursday, January 15 at 7pm ET | 5pm MT for a timely conversation with Katie Wright, Executive Director of the Utah Donor Collaborative, and Matt Lyon, Utah Lead for the Rural West Project, moderated by Reed Galen, Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project. Together, they’ll explore how a growing cross-partisan coalition is building a statewide strategy to turn demographic change into real electoral competition—bridging urban and rural communities, engaging young and new voters, and redefining what a “BigTent” looks like in Utah.
This virtual event will offer insights into the on-the-ground organizing, coalition-building, and strategic thinking needed to compete—and win—in a state long considered out of reach.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Katie Wright is a nonprofit leader focused on connecting human and financial capital to address challenges such as climate change and democracy reform. As Executive Director of the Utah Donor Collaborative, she partners with donors and expert organizations to help transform Utah’s political landscape. From 2008 to 2021, she led the Park City Community Foundation, growing it into one of the nation’s fastest-growing community foundations while expanding grant-making and community investment. From 2021 to 2025, she led Better Boundaries, advancing fair maps and protecting Utahns’ constitutional rights to balanced ballot language and citizen-led reform. Katie is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco, 2005–2007) and holds an MPA from Rutgers University and a B.A. from Colorado College.
Matt Lyon is the founding and managing partner of Blueprint Public Affairs, Finance Director for the Rural West Project, and leads the Rural West Project’s program in Utah. A long time Utah political consultant and operative, Matt was a founder of the Better Boundaries initiative, the Utah Donor Collaborative, Alliance for a Better Utah, and other local and national redistricting efforts. He has run and worked on campaigns for the U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, various state and mayoral efforts and a State Democratic Party.
Reed Galen is an independent political strategist, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, and currently serves as the President of The Union, a nationwide coalition working to rebuild American democracy from the ground up. The Union brings together volunteers, organizers, and local leaders to support decent, competent candidates at every level of government. Under Reed’s leadership, The Union is building the infrastructure needed to show up in all 50 states and strengthen civic engagement nationwide.
