Utah Republicans look poised to broaden their supermajority within the Utah Home after Tuesday’s midterm elections.
This success is partially as a consequence of new political maps authorized by the GOP-controlled Legislature final November on the conclusion of the state’s decennial redistricting effort.
Heading into Election Day, Republicans managed 58 seats within the Home, whereas Democrats held 17. With outcomes nonetheless pending in a number of races, the partisan cut up might develop to 61-14.
And earlier than a single vote had been tallied on Tuesday, Republicans had added one to their complete as the brand new maps eradicated the seat held by Draper Democrat Suzanne Harrison. She was shifted right into a neighboring seat represented by Republican Jeff Stenquist. As an alternative of a long-shot marketing campaign in opposition to Stenquist, Harrison opted to run for Salt Lake County Council, the place she presently leads incumbent Richard Snelgrove.
Republicans are additionally positioned to flip two Democratic-controlled seats on the west facet of Salt Lake County. Quinn Kotter holds the lead over incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Weight in Home District 26, 52% to 48%. Republican Anthony Loubet leads Democrat Claire Collard in Magna’s Home District 27 by lower than 4 share factors, 51.87% to 48.13%.
Utah GOP Chairman Carson Jorgensen predicted Republicans would acquire between three and 5 seats within the Legislature after the brand new maps had been adopted final November. He now says these races are a lot nearer than anticipated when the maps had been first unveiled.
“The final word purpose wasn’t to redistrict anyone out of their seat, however after the maps got here out, we noticed some alternatives. These districts are literally tighter than we thought they had been going to be,” Jorgensen stated.
Traditionally, redistricting in Utah has led to Democrats dropping seats within the Legislature. In earlier election cycles, Democrats made incremental positive aspects solely to see them worn out in the course of the subsequent redrawing of legislative boundaries.
Earlier than the redistricting in 2011, Democrats held 16 seats within the Home however misplaced two seats when the brand new maps had been applied for the 2012 election. In 2000, Democrats managed 24 seats however misplaced 5 after redistricting.
Republicans had been assured they might add one other seat to their column, Home District 10 in South Ogden, held by Democrat Rosemary Lesser. She is the one Democrat within the Legislature outdoors of Salt Lake County. She presently leads Republican Jill Koford, 53.84% to 46.16%.
“I’m stunned she (Lesser) seems like she’ll dangle on, to be fully sincere,” Jorgensen stated. “That may be a race we had been actually targeted on.”
Two seats Democrats had hoped to flip will doubtless stay in Republican fingers. Judy Weeks-Rohner leads Democrat Fatima Dirie, 50% to 44% in West Valley’s Home District 30. In West Jordan’s Home District 39, Republican Ken Ivory seems to have survived a robust problem from Democrat Hope Goeckeritz. Ivory leads 56% to 44%.
“We at all times knew this could be an in depth race. I belief the method and look ahead to seeing the ultimate vote rely,” Goeckeritz, nonetheless optimistic, instructed The Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday.
The Utah Senate make-up will stay the identical when the 2023 Legislature will get underway in January, with 23 Republicans and 6 Democrats.