Utah still a very red state but no longer the reddest

What did we learn from the 2008 elections?

Well, to the surprise of no one, Utah is still a very Republican state.

But if you look at the presidential race, and how President-elect Barack Obama did in Utah compared to other states, Utah is NOT the most red state in the nation.

Obama got around 34 percent of the Utah vote, making Utah the third most Republican state. Take what you will from that.

GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., on the other hand, won the most lopsided landslide in a statewide race in state history, getting 77.73 percent of the vote.

And Republicans swept into office easily in the other three statewide races.

Yet, Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson won re-election to his 2nd Congressional District by 63 percent of the vote; his largest victory, as well.

So are Utahns glad-happy for split-ticket voting?

Looks like many are — at least in 2008.

The big news came in Salt Lake County and legislative races. And even in those contests, change in just a few races tipped the balance of power in the county.

The home of the Utah Jazz, University of Utah football and Real Salt Lake is now officially blue. (Sorry, Cougars.)

Democrats won control of the nine-member County Council, 5-4. Democratic Mayor Peter Corroon swept into office with a big win.

Democrats picked up three Utah House seats and one Senate seat in the county — knocking out of office Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, in the process.

In the county, Democratic House members outnumber GOP representatives, 19-11. And there are eight Democratic senators to just four of their GOP colleagues.

While the state Republican Party did OK on Nov. 4, the Salt Lake County Republican Party got whipped. We will see what changes are made, if any, in GOP leadership next summer when state and county party bosses are picked.

Meanwhile, for legislative watchers — and those plying their trades on Capitol Hill — there were some lightning strikes in party leadership races.

Booted out of office by fellow GOP senators were President John Valentine, R-Orem, and Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo. Bramble's demise (following the pizza-girl episode and others) was not a surprise. But Valentine's was.