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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Republicans were looking to widen their lead in the Utah Legislature on Tuesday as Democrats scrambled to hold their positions in the House and Senate.
All 75 House seats and 16 of the Senate's 29 seats were up for election, but only about a dozen of those races were in serious contention. Unfortunately for Democrats, those contests were more likely than not to reduce their numbers.
Republicans occupy 77 of the Legislature's 104 seats and can do almost anything they want. If they stick together, they can advance constitutional amendments or override the governor's veto without help from Democrats.
Tuesday's election was certain to bring some change to a part-time Legislature that sees regular turnover every election cycle. Twenty-five of 104 seats are open, with departing incumbents guaranteeing almost as many new faces.
Democrats couldn't find a candidate for every district, opting out of 18 House races and leaving them uncontested for Republicans. They had all the Senate races covered, but couldn't expect to make gains there.
The Democrats were playing defense in the Senate, trying to hold onto all eight of their seats that are up for re-election this year. Two of the veterans are quitting.
Republicans, meanwhile, are hoping to upset Democrats in several legislative districts in Salt Lake and Tooele counties.
Democrats have traditionally controlled these districts by narrow margins and by force of incumbency, but things are changing. Some of the officeholders are quitting, leaving districts open for the taking. And in some of the districts, changing demographics are bringing more conservatives to new housing developments.
In Ogden, Police Chief Jon Greiner, a Republican who toppled an incumbent in a June primary, faced Democrat Stuart Reid, the city's former economic development chief.
Democrats said Reid represents their best hope of making any gain in the Legislature.
Overall, however, Republicans were betting they would gain two seats in the Utah House, where they hold sway 56-19, and they hoped to consolidate their power in the Senate, where they hold sway 29-21.
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On the Net: Utah Legislature: http://www.le.utah.gov
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
