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Utah Political Watch

@utahpoliticalwatch.news
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Independent political journalism covering Utah state and local politics. Fearless, reader-funded reporting holding officials accountable. linkin.bio/utahpolitics

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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 02/02/2026
A bill to loosen Utah's public school vaccination requirements died in a House committee Friday after a tie vote. Rep. Trevor Lee's HB152 sought to scrap the mandate that parents watch a 15-30 minute education module before receiving a vaccine waiver. utahpolitics.news/utah-bill-ea...
utahpolitics.news
Utah bill easing school vaccine exemptions stalls on tie vote
Three Republicans vote with Democrats to halt Rep. Trevor Lee's proposal.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 30/01/2026
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz surfaces as a potential successor to Kristi Noem at DHS. If Chaffetz jumps, it could derail his expected run for Utah governor in 2028. Full story: utahpolitics.news/former-utah-...
utahpolitics.news
Chaffetz floated for Homeland Security amid Noem fallout
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz is reportedly in the mix to replace Kristi Noem at DHS, potentially detouring a 2028 Utah governor run.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 27/01/2026
The bill to expand Utah's Supreme Court took a curious detour on Monday morning. Instead of assigning it to the House Judiciary Committee, House leadership sent it to Business and Labor. The move isn't about speed...it's about leverage. Story 👇 utahpolitics.news/utah-supreme...
utahpolitics.news
Utah Supreme Court expansion bill takes unusual detour
SB134 to expand Utah’s Supreme Court bypassed Judiciary and was rerouted to Business & Labor — a strategic committee move to smooth passage.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 26/01/2026
The Utah Forward Party got a seat in the legislature after Sen. Daniel Thatcher switched from the GOP and got to pick his replacement when he resigned. A new bill ties vacancy replacements to the party that the previous officeholder was in when first elected. utahpolitics.news/new-utah-bil...
utahpolitics.news
Utah's SB194 padlocks party-switch vacancies after Forward Party flip
SB194 would prevent party flipping and, for unaffiliated seats, hand the shortlist to the GOP majority
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 23/01/2026
Utah's SJR4 pushes an Article V convention for term limits. Conservative groups call the proposal "dangerous." Story: utahpolitics.news/term-limits-...
utahpolitics.news
Utah's Article V term limits push meets conservative backlash
Utah Sen. Stevenson's SJR4 seeks a convention of states for congressional term limits. Utah conservative organizations are warning of a "runaway convention."
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 21/01/2026
📊 Today's Prop. 4 repeal update: +2,354 signatures 50,682 verified (3%) Needs 2,815/day to stay on track; recent pace ≈1,300/day. Zero districts at the 8% threshold. Full rundown: utahpolitics.news/prop-4-repea...
utahpolitics.news
Utah Prop 4 repeal update (Jan. 21): Signatures lagging
Latest update on Utah’s Prop 4 anti-gerrymandering repeal: 2,354 new signatures, 50,682 total (36%); pace off track; zero Senate districts hit 8%.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 21/01/2026
A Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation to make Utah voters show proof of citizenship to get a full ballot and let officials challenge a voter's citizenship. We read the bill so you don't have to ➡️ utahpolitics.news/show-your-pa...
utahpolitics.news
"Show your papers" to vote in Utah?
HB209 would create a two-tier system in Utah's elections
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 20/01/2026
The push to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is lagging. The campaign sits at ~34% of the statewide signature requirement. Organizers need 2,801 signatures per day; they're currently doing 2,063. They've also met the requirement in 0 of 26 districts. utahpolitics.news/repeal-prop-...
utahpolitics.news
Repeal Prop. 4? Utah signature drive stalled at 34%
The bid to scrap Utah's anti-gerrymandering law is crawling, not sprinting.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 16/01/2026
Another L for Phil Lyman. A federal judge tossed out his latest lawsuit over access to Utah's voter rolls. utahpolitics.news/phil-lyman-l...
utahpolitics.news
Judge tosses Phil Lyman's NVRA lawsuit over Utah voter rolls
A federal court tosses Lyman’s bid to access restricted Utah voter rolls under the NVRA, ruling he lacks standing.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 13/01/2026
Not exactly grassroots. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox raised more than $1.6M in 2025. More than 70% came from just 55 donors. Ten $50K checks came from corporate heavyweights. Full breakdown at the link: utahpolitics.news/deep-pockets...
utahpolitics.news
Spencer Cox's 2025 fundraising: 70% from 55 big donors
Nearly half of Cox's 2025 fundraising total came from just 19 donors
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 12/01/2026
Stripping away local control to own the libs. Utah Republican Trevor Lee, who lives in Layton, wants to rename Salt Lake City's Harvey Milk Blvd. for conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in Orem last year. utahpolitics.news/rep-trevor-l...
utahpolitics.news
Utah HB196: Republican to rename Harvey Milk Blvd for Charlie Kirk
Rep. Trevor Lee, who represents Layton in the legislature, is sponsoring legislation to rename Harvey Milk Blvd. for Charlie Kirk.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 08/01/2026
Remember when Utah lawmakers quietly repealed the state's term-limits law in 2003? Now, a Utah lawmaker is proposing an 8-year limit for elected officials. If approved, it would be much tougher to wriggle out of. utahpolitics.news/lawmaker-pro...
utahpolitics.news
Utah lawmaker proposes term limits for elected officials
HJR3 would impose 8-year limits on legislators and statewide officers but wouldn't count any years served before January 2027
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 07/01/2026
A Utah GOP lawmaker wants a 7% porn tax to fund teen mental health services. The proposal would tax adult content and force platforms to register with the state or face fines of $1,000/day. utahpolitics.news/utah-gop-law...
utahpolitics.news
Utah porn tax: SB73 slaps 7% on adult content for teen mental health
SB73 targets adult sites and could rope in platforms like OnlyFans or Reddit
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 07/01/2026
Former Congressman Rob Bishop wants back in. If he pulls it off, it would be a Utah political first. utahpolitics.news/reverse-migr...
utahpolitics.news
Rob Bishops 2026 election could be a Utah political first
Former Congressman Rob Bishop chases a Utah first
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 05/01/2026
The first day of candidate filing for Utah's 2026 midterm elections got spicy 🌶️ Stuart Adams might be vulnerable, 10 incumbents bowing out, and Ken Ivory's "safe" seat wobbles. Five big takeaways at the link 🔗 utahpolitics.news/utah-2026-mi...
utahpolitics.news
Utah 2026 midterms: 5 filing-day takeaways
Stuart Adams finally gets a real primary, Jill Koford eyes the Senate, ten lawmakers bow out, and Ken Ivory’s “safe” seat wobbles.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 23/12/2025
"What if I told you I disagree?" Third District Judge Dianna Gibson flatly rejected a key argument from Utah legislative attorneys, signaling trouble for their efforts to appeal her rulings in the redistricting case. utahpolitics.news/judge-signal...
utahpolitics.news
Utah judge challenges Legislature's appeal in redistricting case
At a tense hearing, Judge Dianna Gibson cast doubt on the Utah Legislature’s bid to fast‑track an appeal in the Prop 4 redistricting fight—jeopardizing a 2026 map reset and a quick trip to the Utah Su...
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 15/12/2025
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says he's not running for president in 2028, but the number of what seem to be trial balloons are starting to pile up. Could Cox's anti-Big Tech stance give him a lane in 2028? #utpol #politics #spencercox utahpolitics.news/another-spen...
utahpolitics.news
Spencer Cox's 2028 trial balloon: Big tech, book, buzz
Could Cox turn anti-Big Tech bluster into a 2028 presidential run?
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 10/12/2025
Utah just got an "F" on gun laws after lawmakers expanded open carry on college campuses this year. A new report ranks Utah's gun regulations 27th in the U.S. Full breakdown at the link: utahpolitics.news/utah-earns-a...
utahpolitics.news
Utah earns "F" on gun laws
Utah got an "F" on the Giffords Gun Law Scorecard, citing open carry for 18-20-year-olds, no red flag law, and firearm deaths above the U.S. average.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 08/12/2025
On Monday morning, the Legislature announced a hastily scheduled meeting of the Government Operations Interim Committee to hold a hearing on proposed legislation for Tuesday's special session.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 08/12/2025
Tuesday's special session: speed over scrutiny. Utah lawmakers are bypassing committee hearings and public testimony to rush through big changes. Full story: dub.sh/Y0CbxjE
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Utah special session freezes out the public: No hearings, fast votes
Utah’s GOP-led Legislature will skip hearings, fast-track legislation—leaving voters no chance to weigh in before Tuesday’s votes.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 05/12/2025
Sen. Mike Lee joined with nearly 50 other Republican lawmakers in support of Texas's Ten Commandments classroom law, urging courts to reject "offended observer" lawsuits, which could make it harder to bring Establishment Clause challenges to religious messages in public schools. dub.sh/P6RQv0c
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Lee joins push to curb First Amendment challenges to Ten Commandments in schools
Utah Sen. Mike Lee joined an amicus brief led by Rep. Chip Roy supporting Texas’s Ten Commandments classroom law and urging courts to reject “offended observer” lawsuits, arguing parents lack Article ...
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 04/12/2025
Utah taxpayers picked up a $26,584 tab for a House GOP retreat at a swanky resort. The bill included rooms for legislators, staffers and more than $10,000 in catering costs. Details here: dub.sh/Eh1MIE7
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Utah House Republicans $26,584 resort retreat billed to taxpayers
Utah House Republicans charged taxpayers $26,584 for a Zermatt resort retreat, including catered meetings. Records raise questions about funding choices.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 03/12/2025
Utah Sen. John Curtis's yes vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense comes due. If the reporting that Hegseth ordered a second strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat -a possible war crime- holds, the consequences of that vote are here. Story: dub.sh/upq8ALa
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John Curtis's Hegseth vote faces fallout after Caribbean strikes
Utah Sen. John Curtis’s vote confirmed Pete Hegseth. After reporting on a “kill everybody” order and a second strike, war crimes questions mount.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 02/12/2025
A report alleges FBI Director Kash Patel wouldn't deplane in Provo while agents were hunting for Charlie Kirk's killer because he didn't have the right jacket with the correct patches. dub.sh/Lsqmbzx
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Kash Patel's Utah raid jacket allegations shake the FBI
A report alleges Kash Patel refused to exit plane in Provo until an FBI raid jacket with patches arrived as agents searched for Charlie Kirk’s killer.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 02/12/2025
One donor. $4.35M. A Trump aligned dark money group just dropped another $1 million into the effort to repeal Utah's anti-gerrymandering law. So far, Securing American Greatness is sole donor behind the repeal push. Story: dub.sh/RIPdyDA
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Utah Prop. 4 repeal: $4.35M dark money blitz
Securing American Greatness is the sole donor to the Utah GOP's effort to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law—$4.35M in five weeks.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 01/12/2025
Bernie Sanders drops into Utah's 1st Congressional District race, endorsing state Sen. Nate Blouin. Will Sanders' nod move votes, or just headlines? Story: dub.sh/6WJ994w
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Bernie Sanders endorses Nate Blouin in Utah Democratic primary race
Bernie Sanders backs Nate Blouin in Utah’s 1st Congressional District. How the endorsement could shape the Democratic primary.
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Reposted by Utah Political Watch
Dr Nathan @nathan.butnotdetroit.com · 04/11/2025
Utah has its very own "In re Gondor" suit filed last month. Reporting by @utahpoliticalwatch.news The docket: www.courtlistener.com/docket/71644... Cc @questauthority.bsky.social @kathryntewson.bsky.social
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah GOP fringe lawsuit seeks to oust Cox, Curtis, Brown
A small cadre of Utah GOP dissidents filed a federal suit alleging racketeering and election fraud, aiming to remove statewide winners and seat convention picks over signature‑gathering candidates.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 07/11/2025
The Heritage Foundation, the group behind Project 2025, is reeling after its leader, Kevin Roberts, defended Tucker Carlson's interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. A prominent Utah Republican could be waiting in the wings. Story at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/the-heritage...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Heritage Foundation Crisis: Staff Revolt; A Utah Republican?
Kevin Roberts’ defense of Tucker Carlson’s Nick Fuentes interview sparked “open revolt” at Heritage. Why a shake‑up could elevate a Utah conservative to the top job.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 30/10/2025
Records show a PAC funneled $14K in campaign donations from an Arizona Christian nationalist pastor to an Ogden City Council candidate in a scheme to get around campaign contribution limits. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/pac-routed-1...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
PAC routed $14.2K from far-right pastor to Ogden campaign
A political action committee donated more than $14K to Ogden City Council candidate Jase Reyneveld. Records link cash to Christian nationalist pastor.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 30/10/2025
Utah requires certain disclosures on political ads. House Speaker Mike Schultz and a PAC linked to Sen. Mike Lee skipped those disclosures on ads in a local school board race. Penalty? Basically none. Story at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/utah-electio...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah's toothless election ad disclosure law
Utah election law requires disclosures on political ads, but enforcement is minimal. Liberty Champions PAC and House Speaker Mike Schultz skipped them in a local school board race.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 29/10/2025
A PAC linked to Sen. Mike Lee's political network just jumped into a local Utah school board race with attack mailers that misspell a candidate's name. Inside Liberty Champions PAC late blitz in the Alpine Peaks School Board. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/pac-linked-t...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Mike Lee-linked PAC jumps into Utah local school board race
Liberty Champions PAC targets Stacy Bateman in Alpine Peaks School Board race, backing Steve Sparti with culture-war mailers and texts.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 28/10/2025
Utah voters trust Republicans over Democrats to run the state. The margin? 59% to 20%. Democrats are tied with "neither party." That's not a messaging problem. It's an existential crisis. Full breakdown at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/utah-democra...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah Democrats poll at 20%-tied with 'neither party'
Utah Democrats face a 39-point trust gap with Republicans. One in five voters would rather have neither party running the state than Democrats.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 27/10/2025
Your tax dollars at work? Did Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz use taxpayer money to produce a social media video targeting the judge in the gerrymandering case? www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/is-utahs-hou...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah House Speaker spends taxpayer money to attack judge
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz uses taxpayer funds to produce video attacking judge who struck down the state's gerrymandered congressional map.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 24/10/2025
Utah Republicans scheduled all 7 legally-required public hearings on the initiative to repeal the state's anti-gerrymandering law for the same day—Saturday. It's likely the only opportunity for the public to weigh in on the proposal. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/saturday-is-...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah GOP seeks to repeal anti-gerrymandering law | Saturday hearings
The Utah Republican Party is moving to repeal Prop. 4, the state's voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law. Public hearings are Saturday—likely your only chance to comment.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 24/10/2025
New podcast: Blue states will lose seats in Congress in 2030, while red states like Utah will gain them. @amandalitman.bsky.social joins the show to talk about @runforsomething.net's plan to fix this redistricting crisis. Listen and subscribe at the link: special-session.transistor.fm/s1/42
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Reposted by Utah Political Watch
Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
I joined the @utahpoliticalwatch.news podcast to talk about why @runforsomething.net is investing in local candidate recruitment in Utah as part of our 5 year dozen state plan to expand the map. www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ga...
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Expand or extinct: Democrats' 2030 redistricting crisis
YouTube video by Utah Political Watch
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 15/08/2025
🎙️ New podcast: Utah Senate President Stuart Adams is under scrutiny after a change to the law aligned with a family member's criminal case. We break down the timeline, Adams' defense, how the media covered the story, and the impact on public trust. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/podcast-the-...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Podcast: Utah Senate President Stuart Adams faces scrutiny over law change
Inside the controversy surrounding Utah Senate President Stuart Adams. We unpack the timeline, media coverage, and what it means for public trust.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 11/08/2025
Utah Sen. President Stuart Adams is under fire for seemingly using his elected office to help his step-grandchild get a reduced sentence when accused of felony child rape. It's not the first time Adams has used his political clout to help family members. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/sen-stuart-a...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Stuart Adams and a pattern of ethics controversies
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams faces resignation calls after a legal tweak aided his step‑grandchild’s case—spotlighting a pattern of ethics questions.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 09/08/2025
The 18-year-old charged with child rape who got a lighter sentence after Utah Senate President Stuart Adams pushed for a change to the law was his own step-grandchild. 🔗 Read the story at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/after-sen-st...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Utah Senate President's step-grandchild benefitted from law change in rape case
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams pushed for a change to the law, leading to a lighter sentence for his step-grandchild, who was charged with raping a 13-year-old.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 08/08/2025
Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy weighs in on a federal ban on mid-decade redistricting. She also defended Utah's current process, where the Legislature is responsible for drawing political maps. 🔗 Read what she said at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/maloy-says-f...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Celeste Maloy: Keep D.C. out of redistricting
As Texas pushes mid‑decade map redraws, Rep. Celeste Maloy rejects a federal ban and backs Utah’s Legislature‑run redistricting process. Here’s what she said.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 08/08/2025
Can backlash beat a gerrymandered map? A liberal PAC wants to flip 10 GOP seats in Utah next year. The math? Democrats are under 25% of voters in all 10. Two true tossups, eight tough climbs. 🔗 Full breakdown at the link: www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/utah-democra...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Can Utah Democrats flip 10 GOP seats in 2026?
A liberal PAC is targeting 10 Utah GOP legislative seats in 2026. They'll have to overcome a gerrymandered map that overwhelmingly favors Republicans.
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Utah Political Watch @utahpoliticalwatch.news · 18/11/2024
In the Monday Morning News Fix: Republicans suddenly think the economy is great. Trump plans to declare a national emergency to start deportations. Matt Gaetz reportedly took part in nearly a dozen drug-fueled orgies while a member of Congress. #utpol www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/morning-news...
utahpoliticalwatch.news
Morning News Fix: Republicans suddenly think the economy is great
Republicans do a 180 on the economy and elections. Trump's deportation plans include declaring a national emergency. A slight funding boost for Utah's schools.
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