While there’s no big statewide races at the top of the ballot, 3/4 of the races for Utah’s House seats are already underway. Aside from the already high-profile possible rematch between Mia Love and Jim Matheson, we may see another rematch in the 1st Congressional District between Republican Rob Bishop and Democrat Donna McAleer. McAleer will need a much stronger showing in 2014 as she only grabbed a smidgen over 24% of the vote in 2012.
|
Race |
Incumbent |
Challenger |
|
1st Congressional District |
Rob Bishop (R) |
Donna McAleer (D) |
|
2nd Congressional District |
Chris Stewart (R) |
Luz Robles (D) |
|
3rd Congressional District |
Jason Chaffetz (R) |
|
|
4th Congressional District |
Jim Matheson (D) |
Mia Love (R), Bob Fuehr (R) |
Speaking of that Love/Matheson rematch. If it comes to be, we could see upwards of $5 million in spending on that race.
Additionally, every single Utah House seat will be up for grabs along with half of the State Senate. Democrats would need a net pickup of 5 seats in the Senate and 12 in the House to break the veto-proof majority held by Republicans.
Some of the high profile races we can expect to see this time around:
- Four of the five Democrats in the Senate are up for election after sitting out 2012. Only Luz Robles, who is launching a Congressional campaign, is safe this time around.
- Longtime Democrat Pat Jones is retiring from her 4th District seat. Former Senate Minority Leader Ross Romero has already launched his campaign to return to Capitol Hill, but some big-name Democrats are also rumored to be looking at this seat. Expect Republicans to be big players here as well.
- Current Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis is facing a possible challenge from within his own party.
- House Speaker Becky Lockhart is retiring from the Legislature, possibly for a rumored run at governor in 2016. Not much chance (okay, zero) of a Democrat winning this seat. Expect her replacement to join the already powerful Utah County cabal in the Legislature.
- Republicans will likely make a major push to win some Democratic-held seats they targeted and lost in 2012, including Carol Spackman Moss, Janice Fisher, Larry Wiley, Mark Wheatley and Marie Poulson.
- Democrats should make another run at some Republican-held seats they came close to grabbing in 2012, a list that includes Jerry Anderson, Craig Hall and Johnny Anderson.