McCoy said he didn't recall making that statement but did support a Salt Lake City Council candidate who was a member of the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group. McCoy said Brian Doughty was running in a nonpartisan race and as an unaffiliated candidate.

In the committeeman race, McCoy is endorsing Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch, a Democrat. At least two other candidates are running for the slot. Hatch said he welcomed the endorsement and agreed that Orton should not have backed a Republican.

"As an individual, you can endorse anyone you want. But when you're a Democratic Party leader, you kind of give up that right," Hatch said. "I've never voted for a Republican in my life and I would never consider endorsing one. I think it was unseemly."

The outcome of the race for committeeman won't affect the Utah superdelegate vote for Democratic presidential candidates since the winner's term won't begin until after the party's national convention in August.

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