The retirements of Hale and Arent could lead to very painful losses for legislative Democrats.

Arent, especially, was known as a giant-killer, defeating two well-known, well-financed GOP senators as she was redistricted by envious legislative Republicans in 2001 and forced to run out of cycle for her four-year seat.

Believing she may well seek higher office, the Utah Republican Party has long targeted her for defeat. A former state GOP executive director once compared Arent to a snake, saying the GOP wanted to cut her political head off while she was still a new legislator, not giving her the time and experience to build a larger political base.

Democrats hold only eight Senate seats. They are already stretched so thin on the joint budget subcommittees, that when the 10 committees meet at the same time, one or more of the committees doesn't have a Democrat present.

If Democrats drop to just six Senate seats, they will become even less of a factor in the sometimes reactionary Senate.

Rep. Pat Jones, D-Cottonwood Heights, will now run for Arent's seat. Several Democrats have contacted the Deseret Morning News to say they are considering running for Hale's seat.

But while the east side of Salt Lake County has voted for both Hale and Arent in past elections — and supported Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson — the legislative districts are still Republican in their basic make-up, and non-incumbent Democratic candidates will have a tough road if faced with well-funded GOP challengers.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com