GOP may gain seats in Utah

Utah politics often seem opposite of national trends. And this year's state legislative races are no different.

While national Republicans are now playing defense against big losses in the U.S. House and Senate, Utah Democratic Party leaders say they are playing defense in a half-dozen state Senate seats now held by Democrats.

GOP U.S. House leaders are all but admitting they will lose seats in the 435-member chamber, yet Republican state leaders here predict pick-ups in the 75-member Utah House.

And while both the U.S. House and Senate could switch to Democratic majorities in this election, both sides agree in Utah that can't happen — there will be solid GOP majorities in the Utah Legislature next year.

"National (political) trends just don't apply in Utah," said Jeff Hartley, executive director of the Utah Republican Party. "We are unique. We are insulated here. Utahns are just Republicans. It is that simple."

But Utah Democrats are hopeful of some big upsets next month.

Todd Taylor, state party executive director, said Democrats should defeat Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, and House budget chairman Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley.

The Democratic Party is spending more than $100,000 on legislative races.

"If in the end, we take out the speaker and the (House) chair of the budget committee, we will have done our job," Taylor said. "And Utah will be better for it."

Hartley said Republicans "are worried" about Bigelow, who has barely held his seat in previous elections. But they have no concerns about Curtis, a 14-year veteran. Republicans will spend between $200,000 and $300,000 on legislative contests.

Hartley said it will be Republicans, not Democrats, who will land a few shockers of their own: the defeat of longtime lawmaker Rep. Jim Gowans, D-Tooele, and the taking out of Rep. Carl Duckworth, D-Magna, a seat long held by Democrats.

"The demographics of these (longtime Democratic) districts has really changed. Gowans and Duckworth don't work real hard at re-election, and that hurts them. There's new subdivisions out there (in both districts), and like in the Senate seat in that area, the newcomers are young Republican families," Hartley said.

Senate