FILE: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to supporters during a rally Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders campaign announced it is expanding its operation in Utah with a new state headquarters location opening in Salt Lake City. It also announced it would be hire four people to be added to the staff.
The new staff hires include a state coordinator, filled by Jodi Clemens, a regional field director, filled by Rose Asaf, and two full-time field organizers, according to a statement sent to KSL News Radio.
The announcement comes a week after the campaign announced five Utah campaign co-chairs: including Rep. Angela Romero, Murray City councilwoman Rosalba Dominguez, Midvale City councilmember Dustin Gettel, Murray City board member Elizabeth Payne and Black Lives Matter and United Front Civil Rights Organization Founder Lex Scott.
“We are building an unrivaled grassroots operation across Utah that will ensure Bernie wins on Super Tuesday and defeats Donald Trump in November,” said Utah State Coordinator Jodi Clemens in a statement. “Our team of committed staff members and thousands of volunteers is working in every corner of the state to reach voters and expand our already unprecedented people-powered movement.”
The move is one of many from Democratic candidates trying to make an impression in the typically-red state ahead of Super Tuesday in just two weeks.
Presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg hosted a town hall event Monday night, attracting more than 4,500 people to the Union Event Center. Meanwhile, candidate Mike Bloomberg plans to visit the state for the second time on Thursday.
However, the Vermont senator is reported to have the most support in the state with roughly 27% of likely Utah voters backing Sanders, according to a new Salt Lake Tribune poll. The senator also decisively won the Utah Democratic vote when he ran in 2016.
The new headquarters will open Wednesday, according to a statement. The campaign team announced it will host an office opening event and debate watch party in Salt Lake City Wednesday.