While Democrats were eyeing Republican seats in Salt Lake County, the GOP took one of the few Democratic seats in the House. In the northern Utah District 1, which includes most of Box Elder County, Rep. Eli Anderson, D-Brigham City, will not return for an eighth term in the House after losing 53-46 to Republican Rhonda Menlove.

Although Anderson has long held this normally reliable Republican district in northern Utah, GOP leaders felt confident that they could finally defeat him this year with Menlove, an administrator at Utah State University. It was a feeling which Menlove echoed.

"I think this is a traditionally Republican district, where people crossed party lines" for Anderson, she said. "The time was right for someone who was out there and listening to the people."

Menlove, 52, said that she thought she had good support from voters she met during her many hours of walking the district. Most important was her educational background, which includes stints as a schoolteacher, elementary principal, and currently as a Utah State University administrator.

From West Fielding, Box Elder County, she also felt that her local roots were important to voters, as well as the understanding of agriculture she obtained from her family, especially her grandfather. And finally, she thought that her party affiliation definitely helped.

Anderson, 49, said that he felt that even though he was a Democrat from a Republican district, he had represented his constituents' needs and interests well. Regardless of the outcome, he said he was pleased with the support he has been given during his time in office.

"We've worked real hard, and I've represented the people the best I knew how," he said. "I've appreciated their support."

Democrats were able to retain their one seat up for grabs this year, as Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, had a significant lead over Republican Phillip Peay. Outside of Senate 1, though, the Republican candidates all maintained large leads over their Democratic opponents. The Democrats had hoped to gain enough seats in the Senate to have more than one-third of the members, which would enable them to stop veto overrides, halt constitutional amendments and continue debates.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com