Utah County Democrats do have a platform different from that of the national party. It champions "limited government," defines marriage as "the union of one man and one woman" and mirrors the LDS position on abortion.

The biggest general difference between the groups is that the Republicans support school vouchers. The Democrats do not.

Those political positions and a slate of long-time conservatives with strong ties to the community — a former BYU vice president, a former Alpine School District superintendent, the wife of the former dean of the BYU business school — have convinced a number of Republicans to switch parties or at least endorse Democrats. "I'm a lifelong Utah County Republican," Covey said in a message recorded for the Democrat running in his district, "but this year I'm voting for Claralyn Hill, the Democrat for the Utah House of Representatives. In Utah County, we need to look beyond partisan labels and elect the best person for the job. That person is Claralyn Hill. Claralyn Hill is conservative, experienced, highly ethical and an effective coalition builder."

Hill is trying to unseat Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, who has never won an election. Herrod was appointed to the District 62 seat two years ago by the chair of the Utah Republican Party at the time, Enid Greene, despite finishing second in a special election to replace Alexander.

Herrod is endorsed by Gov. Jon Huntsman, Senate President John Valentine and House Speaker Greg Curtis.

Other Republican endorsements won by Utah County Democrats include that of former state Rep. Jordan Tanner, R-Provo, who gave a blanket endorsement to the entire Democratic slate.

Many of the Democrats are on unusually equal financial ground with their Republican counterparts.

Hill, an attorney and the wife of former BYU business school dean Ned Hill, has raised nearly $33,000. Herrod had $36,000.

Former Alpine School District superintendent Steve Baugh, who works for BYU, has raised nearly $45,000 in his race to unseat District 58 Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, who had $29,063.

Former BYU vice president and Weber State University president Paul Thompson raised $26,800 to the $27,850 donated to Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, in a District 59 battle that has dotted State Street with billboards.

The cash, the conservatism and the cachet of Covey, Tanner and others has raised the stakes in the county in a way that may have contributed to some of the clashes between Republicans and Democrats.