Additionally, the troubles of Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman, a Republican, could impact a number of legislative races in the county, Dunn said. If disgruntled Republicans are voting for Democrat Peter Corroon in that high-profile contest, they may keep punching the ballot for Democratic candidates, he hopes.

That's a fear Republican Party executive director Spencer Jenkins echoes, and also one he said Walker is very cognizant of. Compounding the difficulty is the fact that she did not get the same protection as other east-side senators during redistricting.

"It's a high swing district, and how (Workman) performs will impact many races," he said.

GOP targets

Unlike Democrats, Republican leaders do not harbor optimism about gaining more seats in the Senate. Only one Democratic seat is up for election. Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, has held it since 1968 and is current minority leader.

Despite that, Jenkins said that they like their candidate, Philip Peay, in the southeastern Utah district. Jenkins says Peay is running a solid, well-financed campaign.

"He's a dynamic candidate, but it's hard against somebody as well-established as Dmitrich," Jenkins said. "But he's got as good of a chance as any candidate that's run against Mike."

The Utah House is another story.

Democrats didn't even muster candidates in Utah County, rural eastern Utah nor in southern Utah districts.

By comparison, Republicans only failed to recruit a candidate against Rep. Brad King, D-Price, although two other candidates have since dropped out of their races against Democratic incumbents.

Republicans hold a 56-19 majority now in the Utah House. Democrats would have to take seven more seats from Republicans before reaching one-third of the House.

Dunn sees maybe six they have a shot at. But there are several incumbents they are worried about as well.

Republicans, in fact, are eyeing at least two House districts.

"We always worry about Eli," says Dunn of Rep. Eli Anderson, D-Tremonton. But Anderson has continually won in a district that is more than 60 percent Republican.

As with Dmitrich consistently winning in his heavily Republican Utah Senate district, Jenkins feels they have fielded a strong candidate in Rhonda Menlove who could win in Anderson's typically Republican northern Utah seat.

"She's up to speed on the issues," Jenkins said about Menlove. "It's as good of a chance as we've ever had."

Open seats and dogfights