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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate Minority Caucus elected an all-woman leadership team for the 65th Utah State Legislature on Thursday.
Beginning in January, Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, will serve as minority leader. She had been serving as minority whip during the last Senate. Escamilla will swap leadership roles with Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, who was tabbed as minority whip after serving as minority leader since 2018.
Senate Democrats also picked two freshman senators for leadership roles. Senator-elect Jennifer Plumb, District 9, was elected minority assistant whip and Senator-elect Stephanie Pitcher, District 14, was elected minority caucus manager.
Senator-elect @jennifer_plumb will serve as minority assistant whip and Senator-elect @steph_pitcher will be minority caucus manager. #utpol#utlegpic.twitter.com/wEhzVR730u
— Bridger Beal-Cvetko (@BealBridger) November 10, 2022
"We are eager to come together and begin the important work ahead as a new leadership team to support our constituents and the state of Utah," the caucus said in a statement. "The role of the Senate Minority Caucus is to not only advance meaningful policy solutions in the face of our state's pressing issues, but it is also our responsibility to elevate the voices of those who are often sidelined or underrepresented. We are committed to safeguarding foundational rights and liberties; encouraging compassion and equity through good public policy; and fostering a greater quality of life for all."
Plumb and Pitcher will replace longtime Democratic Sens. Jani Iwamoto and Gene Davis. Iwamoto in March said she wouldn't seek reelection in order to spend more time with her family.
Davis was stripped of his committee assignments and announced his resignation last month, effective Nov. 19, following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.
