California Congresswoman Barbara Lee was in Salt Lake City Friday hosting a campaign event for Hilary Clinton. She told those attending that she believes Utah is ready to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate.
Congresswoman Lee represents California’s 13th district which includes parts of Oakland and the East Bay Area. Her presence in Salt Lake reflects the national Democratic Party’s efforts to capitalize on many Utah voters’ distrust of GOP Presidential Candidate Donald Trump.
Lee toured Welfare Square in Salt Lake City before heading to the Clinton Campaign headquarters in East Millcreek. At Welfare Square, The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints provides food, employment assistance and other services to the poor.
Lee called the complex remarkable.
“One thing as a social worker you look for is how services are integrated, how they foster independence, how they help lift people out of poverty into the middle class and how people who are poor are not taken for granted and are empowered and recognized as human beings,” she said.
Lee chairs the Democratic Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity. She’s a clinical social worker and a former welfare recipient.
Her message to Utahns Friday was to reject Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and anti-immigrant stance and put families first.
“From what I’m seeing and learning, Utah is turning blue,” Lee said. “And hopefully we can help make that happen because the alternative in terms of a Donald Trump presidency is very dangerous.”
Utah has not supported a Democrat for President since 1964. Donald Trump is currently leading Hillary Clinton in the state.
