In the past, a Democrat running for Congress in Utah would typically face an uphill battle. But, for the first time in modern history, Utah has a safe Democratic congressional seat that could help determine the makeup of the House majority come November.

The outcome is a result of a mid-decade redistricting process that had nothing to do with President Trump and everything to do with a years-long legal battle to prevent partisan gerrymandering. The legal battle ended with Utah’s four congressional districts redrawn.

Cook Political Report labels the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District as +12 points for Democrats, though some argue it’s even bluer, based on the percentage of its population that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris. The new map concentrated the capital and largest city Salt Lake City, the bluest dot in a red sea, into one seat and included many of the more Democratic-leaning suburbs. The opportunity to elect a Democrat has generated enthusiasm among the Utah Democratic Party in an era when sentiment for the national party is floundering.

It’s also created one of the most competitive Democratic primary election races Utah has ever seen. In a crowded field, voters will pick between four candidates who are all different flavors of Democrat, ranging from moderate to much more progressive and aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.

“Democrats are the odds on favorites to win this district. The question has shifted from can a Democrat win to the question of which Democrat will win,” said Damon Cann, professor of political science at Utah State University.

The top three candidates, Democratic state Sen. Nate Blouin, former Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams and the political newcomer and Utah Democratic convention winner Liban Mohamed, are all presenting different messages to voters.

Liban Mohamed won more than 51% of the delegates at the Utah Democratic Party’s nominating convention in April, though the primary will decide the final nominee. In this file photo, Mohamed speaks on a panel of candidates running to represent Utah’s new Democratic-leaning congressional district in Taylorsville, Utah on March 21.

Hannah Schoenbaum/AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

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Hannah Schoenbaum/AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

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Why Utah’s race matters nationally

The new district is the biggest opportunity Utah Democrats have ever had for Congressional representation, especially when the majority margin in Congress is miniscule.

“We have the ability to add to the body and the Democrats in the House of Representatives in a way that may swing that chamber back to Democratic control,” said Brian King, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party.

It’s also a pocket of blue energy during a time when excitement for the national Democratic party is low. The moment the district was solidified, King said candidates were immediately jumping in the race and participation at the Utah Democratic Convention hit a record turnout.

He said Utah is a successful example of why the national party should be investing in flipping red states and not just focusing on purple districts and areas they know they can win.

“Democrats, if they’re going to be successful across this country, they have to figure out how to speak, to reach and change the hearts and minds of voters in red areas,” he said.

THE GEM STATE — Growing up in a family with Cache Valley roots, southeastern Idaho simply felt like an extension of our neighborhood. Some of my dad’s favorite fishing streams were in Franklin County, and we’d bump into friends who lived in Preston and the surrounding area.

In 1983, my dad started a job that required frequent trips to Rexburg. He’d often bring us kids along, and if we were lucky, he’d extend the visit to take us fishing on Henry’s Lake or rafting on the Snake River. The further north we ventured into Idaho, the more we loved it.

But even after all those trips to Rexburg, my experience in the state was limited. Forget the panhandle … I’d barely seen the pan.

So when my own kids set an audacious goal to explore all 50 states, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to venture into the northernmost regions of the Gem State. Here are some highlights from the route that took us from Lehi all the way up near the Canadian border:

Stanley

After a brief stop in Ketchum, our road trip properly kicked off in this mountain town. We rafted on the Salmon River and hiked kid-friendly trails, all under the imposing gaze of the Sawtooth Range. And even though Stanley’s population is barely in the triple digits, it still boasts some great restaurants. I ordered bison meatloaf at one place that was mind-blowing.

Our highlight of the Stanley area was definitely Redfish Lake. After hearing people rave about it for years, I finally understand why. It’s absolutely gorgeous and offers so many adventures for kids. We did the Lily Pond hike at the south end of the lake, and it was the right level of intensity for our four-year-old. And if you head up the trail a few minutes past the pond, you come to a nice waterfall.

There are several incredible campgrounds to choose from around Redfish Lake. And, if that’s not your style, cabins are available at the Redfish Lake Lodge.

Coeur d’Alene

From Stanley, we headed north to Coeur d’Alene. The eight-hour drive eroded the good vibes we’d created in Stanley, so we pulled into town with some grumpy kids. But the lake is a gem, and they quickly forgot their car-bound sorrows as we played on the beach. We could’ve simply spent our entire three-day stay exploring the beaches of Lake Coeur d’Alene and everyone would’ve been happy. It’s that expansive and beautiful.

Of course, there are lots of free family activities in Coeur d’Alene beyond just playing on the beach. You can watch live performances at the Art on the Green festival or enjoy the music at the Riverstone Summer Concert Series. And at certain times of year, this is the nation’s best place to see migrating bald eagles. If you want to venture even further northward toward the Canadian border, Priest Lake is about an hour and a half away and is absolutely worth the drive.

Since Coeur d’Alene is a resort town, there are hundreds of lodging options. We actually stayed in the neighboring town of Hayden at a place called Triple Play Resort, since it has a big waterpark and several amusement-park rides, and we knew our kids would be stir-crazy from the long drive. Seemed like a good call because they loved it.

McCall

The drive from Coeur d’Alene down to McCall takes about five hours. This was our best wildlife day of the trip, and we saw oodles of elk, pronghorn and deer along the way. Upon arrival, we hit up a Mexican restaurant in town, and it was one of our favorite meals of the entire trip.

The main attraction here is Payette Lake, which rests in a basin carved out by a two-mile-wide glacier some 10,000 years ago. But the violence of that process is long forgotten. Our days in Ponderosa State Park were so tranquil that we sometimes wondered if anyone else was even around (it helped that the summer season wasn’t yet in full swing). And there are multiple hot springs in the area, making it the perfect place for a relaxing soak after a day of hiking.

You can choose from an array of campsites and RV campgrounds in Ponderosa State Park. There are also cabins available to rent.

Boise

We made our final stop in the capital city before heading home. My kids love zoos, so we immediately hit up Zoo Boise. It’s smaller than Hogle Zoo but has some excellent exhibits. And I was intrigued to see some of their unique offerings, such as a boat cruise to observe monkeys in the trees and overnight sleepovers at their safari camp.

If you’re looking for a free activity for the kids downtown, stop by the JUMP campus. They have some epic slides that amazed my kids. The MK Nature Center, located within the Boise River Greenbelt, is another excellent no-cost option. One last highlight was taking my sons out to the Schwartz Sturgeon Pond in Parma. I’ve caught sturgeon on the Snake River before, but it’s not very kid-friendly. So it was fun to sit comfortably at the pond watching the kids catch and release 25 fish in just a couple of hours.

For lodging in Boise, we decided to stay somewhere the kids could really spread out after so much time spent in the car. There are lots of great options in town, but we chose the Element Boise Downtown because the rooms are brand-new and include kitchenettes. We actually got our best night’s sleep here, which was greatly appreciated before we embarked on the five-hour drive home.

EUREKA, Utah (KUTV) — Firefighters protected threatened homes in Eureka as the Iron Fire burned overnight, reporting that no structures were lost.

Officials with the Santaquin City Fire Department said firefighters focused their Saturday night efforts on protecting property from the wildfire after it spread over thousands of acres in Juab County. They released an update at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, saying no structures had been lost during the first part of the night.

“We can all let out a cautious sigh of relief for now. Because of the fire conditions and intensity of this fire, resources were focused mainly on structure protection. Those excellent efforts were successful in protecting the homes in Eureka,” fire officials said.

MORE | Iron Fire:

However, the noted that while the structures survived the night, the fire is still burning and 0% contained.

The human-caused fire was discovered Friday just west of Eureka, on the border of Juab, Tooele and Utah Counties. Since then, it has grown to over 13,000 acres, prompting evacuations for the Town of Eureka and the ranches nearby.

Officials plan to brief the public at 8:30 a.m. on all new developments.

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