SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Natalie Cline lost the Republican nomination to keep her seat after a vote Saturday.

The Salt Lake County Republican Party Nominating Convention wrapped up Saturday afternoon with a definitive answer to the future of the controversial board member Natalie Cline. Delegates overwhelmingly sided with her challenger, Amanda Bollinger, who took home 63% of the vote to Cline’s 36.8%, making Bollinger the Republican nominee.

When declaring candidacy in January, Cline did not submit an intent to gather signatures. She will continue to serve on the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) until the end of the term.

Cline made her final case to delegates this afternoon, using the opportunity to defend her record.

“I have fought and I will continue to fight to my dying breath to protect the children of our state,” Cline said. “I have made promises and kept them at great cost to myself.”

Cline was elected as a USBE board member in 2020. During her time serving on the board, she faced pushback in several instances, most recently in February after posting on social media appearing to question if a high school student was transgender.

The incident led to the USBE condemning her behavior and several Utah officials calling for her resignation. At the time, Cline responded by removing the post and apologizing for “the negative attention my post drew to innocent students and their families.”

However, a week after the incident she said she was being “harassed” by the USBE and “hardened criminals get better due process.” She decided to seek reelection saying the incident was in an effort to destroy her reputation with voters.

Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson, who at the time of the controversy said Cline had “embarrassed the state of Utah,” donated to Bollinger’s campaign. Cox donated $5,000 and Henderson donated $1,000.

Bollinger said the vote was a step toward getting people to trust public education again.

“It means that people care about kids and people are willing to trust me to put the trust of public education back into our system,” she said.

ABC4 reached out to Natalie Cline for comment but has yet to hear back.