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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

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Republicans fall below a House supermajority in unofficial Utah legislative results

Republicans led in 44 of 75 House districts, short of the 50 that make up two-thirds, and are on track for 20 of 29 Senate seats, according to unofficial state results.

AI illustration, not a photograph: the interior of a capitol rotunda dome.
AI illustration: The Utah Ledger · Original graphic · The Utah Ledger

The count

Republicans led in 44 of Utah's 75 House districts in unofficial statewide results posted at 1:42 a.m. Wednesday. Two-thirds of the House is 50 seats. Democrats led in 29 districts, and two unaffiliated candidates, Patrick Belmont in District 3 and Sergio Sotelo in District 38, were ahead. [1]

Before the election Republicans held 60 House seats and 22 of the 29 Senate seats, according to the Legislature's roster. [2] Fifteen Senate seats were on the ballot. Republicans led in eight of them, Democrats in six and Forward Party Sen. Emily Buss in one. With the 12 Republican senators whose seats were not up, that puts Republicans at 20 of 29 seats, the smallest number that makes up two-thirds of the Senate. [1][2]

The Salt Lake Tribune's election-night headline said Democrats were on path to flip seats in the Republican-dominated Legislature. [3]

Senate

Senate District 19: Democrat Shana Anderson had 17,361 votes, or 56.86%, to 13,173, or 43.14%, for Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, a Republican. [1]

Senate District 5: Democrat CJ Hernandez had 13,719 votes, or 57.26%, to 10,240, or 42.74%, for Rep. Jill Koford, a Republican. The seat has been held by Republican Sen. Ann Millner, who was not on the ballot. [1][2]

Senate District 11: Buss had 9,973 votes, or 50.59%, to 9,741, or 49.41%, for Republican Brooks Benson, a margin of 232 votes. [1]

Senate District 7: Republican Stephanie Hollist led Democrat Garret Rushforth, 16,471 votes to 11,493, for the seat held by Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican who was not on the ballot. [1][2]

House incumbents trailing

Thirteen Republican House members trailed Democratic or unaffiliated challengers in the unofficial count. [1][2]

The widest margins: Rep. Matt MacPherson (District 26) trailed Democrat Michael Finch, 66.07% to 33.93%. Rep. Anthony Loubet (District 27) trailed Liz Oates, 63.76% to 36.24%. Rep. Ken Ivory (District 39) trailed Drew Howells, 60.14% to 39.86%. In District 3, Rep. Jason Thompson trailed unaffiliated candidate Patrick Belmont, 58.77% to 41.23%. [1]

Also trailing: Rep. Steve Eliason (District 43) to Ofa Matagi, 56.34% to 43.66%. Rep. Clint Okerlund (District 42) to Iva Williams, 55.71% to 44.29%. Rep. Norm Thurston (District 62) to David Chappell, 55.37% to 44.63%. Rep. Jim Dunnigan (District 36) to Blake Townsend, 54.66% to 45.34%. Rep. Jordan Teuscher (District 44) to Jess Birtcher, 54.08% to 45.92%. Rep. Jake Sawyer (District 9) to Angela Choberka, 53.65% to 46.35%. [1]

Three incumbents trailed by under 500 votes. Rep. Melissa Ballard (District 20) trailed Democrat Phil Graves by 358 votes. Rep. Tiara Auxier (District 4) trailed Zane Woolstenhulme by 326 votes. Rep. Jason Kyle (District 8) trailed Democrat Kim James by 497 votes, with Forward Party candidate Libby Shelton at 456 votes. [1]

Open seats and close races

In four House seats held by Republicans where the incumbent was not on the ballot, a Democrat or unaffiliated candidate led. [2] Democrat Rosemary Lesser led Jim Alvey in District 10, 62.95% to 37.05%, in the seat Koford is giving up to run for the Senate. Sotelo led Republican Chris McConnehey in District 38, 57.77% to 42.23%. Democrat Benyde Walker led Republican Jake Hunsaker in District 48 by 374 votes. In District 59, Democrat Celeste Johnson led Republican Luke Searle by 25 votes, 6,467 to 6,442, out of 12,909 cast. [1]

Republicans led narrowly in several others. Rep. Katy Hall (District 11) led Democrat Dave Calder by 96 votes. Bob Stevenson (District 16) led Abigail Treasure by 192. Rep. Candice Pierucci (District 49) led Lillian Bowles by 219. Rep. Ryan Wilcox (District 7) led Bianca Mittendorf by 416. Rep. Tracy Miller (District 45) led Rod Moser by 434. Rep. Cory Maloy (District 52) led Nicole Melling by 321, and Rep. Lisa Shepherd (District 61) led Alan Jimenez by 125. [1]

Even if every House race now led by a Democrat or unaffiliated candidate by fewer than 500 votes went to a Republican, Republicans would hold 49 seats, one short of 50. [1]

Results are unofficial. County canvasses run Nov. 10-17 and the statewide canvass is Nov. 23. [5]

Sources

  1. Utah Lt. Governor's Office: unofficial 2026 general election results, as of 1:42 a.m. Nov. 4, 2026 electionresults.utah.gov
  2. Utah Legislature: legislator roster le.utah.gov
  3. Salt Lake Tribune: Democrats on path to flip seats in Utah's Republican-dominated Legislature, Nov. 3, 2026 sltrib.com
  4. Ballotpedia: Utah elections, 2026 (June primary results) ballotpedia.org
  5. Utah Lt. Governor's Office: current election information and canvass dates vote.utah.gov

This story was written by AI from the report by Utah Lt. Governor's Office, which has the full story. How we write stories.