Former Utah Attorney General Paul Van Dam and Democratic Progressive Caucus leader Craig Axford are the first Utah Democrats to announce their bid for party chairman.

Current party chair Donald Dunn announced last month that he will not run for re-election.

Van Dam, as his press release states, is "the only living Democrat to win a statewide election against a Republican incumbent," having won the attorney general office in 1988. Prior to that he served as Salt Lake County district attorney and last year ran unsuccessfully for Bob Bennett's U.S. Senate seat.

Axford, a former member of Utah's Green Party, has been both a Democrat and co-chairman of the Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus since 2003.

"I believe the Democratic Party is at a crossroads," says Axford. "If we are to begin moving toward a new Democratic majority in Utah, we need leadership willing to stand up for Democratic values such as fiscal responsibility, a living wage for every working man and woman in Utah, and universal health care coverage."

The party, he says, "too often circles the wagons and shoots inward." Democrats are often seen attacking each other in the press "over issues that frankly don't matter much to the average voter," he says.

Van Dam says Utah Democrats need a leader "who has the experience and vision needed to build bridges within our own party and ensure a bright future by serving as a clear voice of reason and moderation."

The filing period for party chairman begins today and runs through March 31. Democratic delegates will choose their new leader at the state party convention May 7.