Moore, Kennedy win reelection; Utah voters back top Supreme Court justice

SALT LAKE CITY — Freshman Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, will serve another term in Congress, according to the Associated Press, which called his race for Utah's 4th Congressional District at 6:43 p.m. Thursday.

Kennedy's was the last of Utah's four congressional races to be called.

In a statement Thursday night, Kennedy told Utahns he was "humbled by your trust and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving you in Congress."

"I am determined to meet the challenges of the next two years head on," he added. "I will work with others when I can, stand firm when it counts, and never stop fighting for the people of Utah, and for our great country — the United States of America."

Kennedy leads Democrat Jonny Larsen with nearly 53-41% as of 8:15 p.m. Thursday.

Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, declared victory over Democrat Peter Crosby on Tuesday night, but the 2nd Congressional District race was officially called for Moore by the Associated Press on Thursday morning. Moore currently leads with just over 50% of the vote, compared to Crosby's 42%. Several other candidates sit in the single digits, as of 8:15 p.m.

Around 96% of the votes have been tallied in that district, according to Associated Press estimates.

Blue wave hits Utah House

Multiple GOP-held seats in the Utah Legislature still seem on track to flip to Democrats, likely ending the supermajority Republicans have held in the House for at least 26 years. Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, is set to be the highest-ranking incumbent to lose, as he still trails Democrat Shana Anderson by more than 3,800 votes. Cullimore was considered a frontrunner to lead the Senate after Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, was defeated in a primary election in June.

Sen. Emily Buss, a member of the Utah Forward Party and the Legislature's only third-party member, trails Republican Brooks Benson by fewer than 200 votes, as of Thursday evening.

In the House, 13 Democrats and two independents are still on pace to flip GOP-held seats as they lead Republicans by more than 100 votes as of 8:15 p.m.

Votes are still being counted across the state, and results could continue to trickle in in the coming days.

Utahns vote to retain Supreme Court Justice Jill Pohlman

A top justice in the Utah Supreme Court will retain her seat after the midterm election, despite efforts from some Republicans to encourage Utahns to vote against her.

Associate Chief Justice Jill Pohlman, the highest-ranking member of the court since the chief justice resigned earlier this year, is on track to win retention with more than three-quarters of voters supporting her. Judges are almost never voted off the bench, but it's also unusual for political leaders to openly call for voters to reject a member of the judiciary.

Some Republicans in the Legislature have expressed frustration with the state's high court after it ruled against lawmakers in several high-profile cases, including lawsuits on abortion and redistricting.

Judges in Utah are appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate, but then must win regular retention elections after that in order to stay on the bench.

Pohlman and former Justice Diana Hagen were the only two justices up for retention elections this year, and both were targeted for being voted out by Republicans. Outgoing Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, called for Republicans to vote against retaining both during a rally, while Utah Republican Party Chairman Rob Axson asked the same of delegates during this year's party nominating convention.

Hagen resigned in May ahead of a state investigation into an alleged relationship, leaving Pohlman the only member of the Supreme Court on this November's ballot.

Voters appear not to have heeded the calls for opposing Pohlman, as more than 76% voted to retain her.

Contributing: Daniel Woodruff

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