Matheson said he respected the caucus position. "The Democratic party is a big-tent party," he said. "On this (issue), we disagree."

Saturday morning, the Democrats amended their platform to oppose any efforts to amend either the state or federal constitutions to restrict civil liberties, including bans on gay marriage.

Former Utah Attorney General Paul Van Dam will run against incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, who is running for his third term. Van Dam took 97 percent of the Democratic delegate vote to Cody Judy's 3 percent.

Former South Salt Lake Police assistant chief Beau Babka was unopposed in his bid to be the Democratic challenger to 3rd District Rep. Chris Cannon, who is seeking his fifth term. Cannon was facing GOP challengers Matt Throckmorton and Greg Hawkins.

Logan City Councilman Steve Thompson won 67 percent of the delegate vote to become the 1st Congressional District candidate, besting software programmer and Salt Lake City community council leader Brian Watkins, who received 31 percent of the delegate vote.

Thompson, whose convention speech started with a mock New Orleans-style funeral for Utah's one-party political rule, will face Republican Rep. Rob Bishop, who is seeking a second term.

Nearly 3,700 people attended the convention, a record number, organizers said.