The 104-member Utah Legislature will remain solidly Republican after the Nov. 2 elections, according to both GOP and Democratic leaders.

However, there's a real chance, says a smiling Democratic party chairman Donald Dunn, that Democrats can gain three state Senate seats — reaching one-third of the body and achieving a position in which they can uphold vetoes by, they hope, "Gov. Scott Matheson Jr."

One-third also means they could stop constitutional amendments and keep debate going on a bill, in at least one chamber.

Dunn may be overly optimistic on both counts — especially the "Gov. Matheson" prediction; Utah hasn't elected a Democratic governor in 24 years (Matheson's father.)

Still, GOP state leaders admit they "are playing defense" in this legislative election, mainly because Republicans won so many legislative races in 2002 after they redistricted the 75 House and 29 Senate seats that it's unlikely the Grand Old Party can take many away from the minority party.

"You can't eat an elephant in one bite," Dunn likes to say of his long-range plan to make Democrats more of a factor on Capitol Hill. He adds: "We're concentrating on the Senate this election."

The Workman factor

Democrats think they have a real shot at unseating Sen. James Evans, R-Salt Lake; winning the open Senate 19 seat of retiring Sen. Dave Gladwell, R-Ogden; and knocking out Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights.

If things fall the Democrats' way, they could even see former Democratic state Sen. Joe Hull recapture the seat he lost in 2000 in Weber County and watch Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, get taken out, too.

GOP political director Bill Fagergren said that while much of that is wishful thinking, Evans does have a tough re-election campaign in a district that includes most of Salt Lake City's west side.

Utah's most racially diverse district, it is also one which the Democrats controlled until 2002, when political infighting and a Green Party candidate gave Evans a slim victory in the race to replace Democrat Pete Suazo, who died in an ATV accident in 2001. Since then, Evans has worked to solidify his base.

"We feel lucky to have James," Fargergren said. "He's worked hard from the first day."

Gladwell beat former state Rep. Grant Protzman by only a handful of votes in 2000, but redistricting in Senate District 19 made it a bit more Republican this time around.

Walker actually has several Democratic House members in her east-side Salt Lake area district. That part of the county has twice helped elect Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, to the U.S. House.