Elections for the
Utah House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on
November 4, 2014. The
signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 20, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Utah House of Representatives. The Republican Party strengthened their control of the chamber, increasing their seats held from 61 to 62. The Democratic Party lost a single seat, dropping from 14 to 13 seats held.
Incumbents retiring[edit]
A total of ten incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
Majority control[edit]
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Utah House of Representatives:
Competitiveness[edit]
Candidates unopposed by a major party[edit]
In 15 (20.0%) of the 75 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 13 Republicans and two Democrats were guaranteed election in November barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 60 (80.0%) of the 75 districts up for election.
Competitive
- District 30: Michael D. Lee (D) defeated Fred Cox (R) in the general election. Incumbent Janice Fisher (D) won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
- District 31: Incumbent Larry Wiley (D) defeated Sophia DiCaro (R) in the general election. Wiley won the general election by a margin of victory of 1 percent in 2012.
- District 37: Incumbent Carol Moss (D) defeated Ron Hilton (R) in the general election. Moss won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
- District 69: Incumbent Jerry Anderson was defeated by Bill Labrum in the Republican convention. Brad King (D) defeated Labrum in the general election, flipping the seat. Anderson won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
Convention challenges[edit]
A total of 13 incumbents faced convention competition for their party's nomination. Two incumbents faced competition in the August 24 primary elections. Ten incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 50 incumbents advanced past the convention without opposition. The representatives that faced convention competition were:
Primary challenges[edit]
The representatives that faced primary competition are:
Retiring incumbents[edit]
Ten incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 64 (85.3%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, four Democrats and six Republicans, can be found above.
Qualifications[edit]
To be eligible to serve in the Utah House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[1]
- A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
- 25 years old at the filing deadline time
- A three-year resident of Utah at the filing deadline time
- A resident for 6 months of the senate district from which elected at the filing deadline time
- No person holding any public office of profit or trust under authority of the United States, or of this State, can be a member of the state senate, provided, that appointments in the State Militia, and the offices of notary public, justice of the peace, United States commissioner, and postmaster of the fourth class, shall not, within the meaning of this section, be considered offices of profit or trust.
- A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:
- * A U.S. citizen
- * A resident of Utah for at least 30 days prior to the next election
- * At least 18 years old by the next election
- * His or her principal place of residence is in a specific voting precinct in Utah.
Convention system[edit]
Utah has a unique election system that combines local conventions and party primaries. A precinct caucus is held to vote for delegates to county conventions. Precinct delegates vote at the county conventions to nominate candidates for state office. In order to forgo a primary election, a candidate must receive more than 60% of the votes at the county convention. If multiple candidates run and none receive 60% of the vote, the candidate with the lowest total is eliminated and another vote is taken. Once only two candidates remain, if neither receives more than 60% of the vote, both advance to the party's primary. Each party holds its own caucuses and conventions.[2][3][4]
List of candidates[edit]
Note: Incumbent Ronda Menlove (R) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Constitution candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dorene Schulze-Stever: 1,035
Scott Sandall: 5,592 
Lee H. Phipps: 607
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
David E. Lifferth: 5,461 
Charles Christensen: 1,110
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jack R. Draxler
a - Incumbent Draxler was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jack R. Draxler: 7,191 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Edward Redd
a - Incumbent Redd was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Edward Redd: 4,596 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jeffrey D. Turley: 1,728
R. Curt Webb: 6,776 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jake Anderegg
a - Anderegg was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Travis Harper: 1,144
Jake Anderegg: 5,093 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Note: Craig L. Dearden withdrew before the primary.
June 24 Republican primary:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Camille L. Neider: 2,066
Justin L. Fawson: 4,392 
Roger S. Condie: 298
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Gage Froerer
a - Incumbent Froerer was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
Note: Jess McClelland withdrew from election.
November 4 General election candidates:
John H. Thompson: 2,036
Gage Froerer: 3,967 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jeremy Peterson
a - Incumbent Peterson was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Steve Olsen: 1,721
Jeremy Peterson: 2,273 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Dixon M. Pitcher
a - Incumbent Pitcher was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Eric D. Irvine: 2,355
Dixon M. Pitcher: 3,116 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Brad Dee
a - Incumbent Dee was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Amy Steed Morgan: 2,607
Brad Dee: 4,364 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Note: Incumbent Richard A. Greenwood withdrew from election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Joseph Marrero: 1,308
Mike Schultz: 4,118 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Bob Buckles: 1,618
Paul Ray: 4,067 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Curtis Oda
a - Incumbent Oda was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
November 4 General election candidates:
Cheryl Lynn Phipps: 1,677
Curtis Oda: 3,386 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Brad R. Wilson
a - Incumbent Wilson was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rich Miller: 1,339
Brad R. Wilson: 5,861 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Steve Handy
a - Incumbent Handy was first appointed to chamber in 2010.
Constitution candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Douglas McEntire Sill: 1,731
Steve Handy: 4,366 
Jeffrey Ostler: 469
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Eric Last: 2,016
Stewart E. Barlow: 6,973 
Note: Incumbent Roger Barrus (R) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Richard Bagley: 2,393
Timothy D. Hawkes: 7,777 
Note: Incumbent Jim Nielson (R) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Note: Lynn Anderson withdrew before the primary.
June 24 Republican primary:
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Daniel N. Donahoe: 2,133
Raymond Ward: 7,755 
Eli Cawley: 526
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Becky Edwards
a - Incumbent Edwards was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Note: Brady Tracy withdrew as a Republican and ran as a Constitution candidate for the convention.
Constitution convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Donna Taylor: 1,663
Becky Edwards: 5,257 
Robert G. Moultrie: 488
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Douglas Sagers
a - Incumbent Sagers was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rick A. Pollock: 2,381
Douglas Sagers: 4,395 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Constitution candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Susan D. Duckworth: 2,709 
William "Bill" Both: 2,189
Marilee Roose: 350
Note: Incumbent Jennifer Seelig (D) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Sandra Hollins: 2,492 
Kristopher M. Smith: 1,282
Megan Clegg: 227
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Note: Pedro A. Gomez withdrew prior to the general election.[5]
November 4 General election candidates:
Rebecca Chavez-Houck: 7839 
Democratic convention candidates:
- Joel K. Biscoe
a - Incumbent Briscoe was first appointed to the chamber in 2010.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Joel K. Biscoe: 7,065 
Gordon Lund Gurr: 1,337
Democratic convention candidates:
- Angela Romero
a - Incumbent Romero was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Angela Romero: 2,977 
Spencer Barclay: 1,112
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Mike Kennedy
a - Incumbent Kennedy was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
William A. McGee: 918
Mike Kennedy: 6,997 
Democratic convention candidates:
- Brian S. King
a - Incumbent King was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Brian S. King: 9,960 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Lee B. Perry
a - Incumbent Perry was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Alan Yorgason: 1,593
Lee B. Perry: 5,588 
Note: Incumbent Janice Fisher (D) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Michael D. Lee: 3,029
Fred C. Cox: 3,076 
Democratic convention candidates:
- Larry Wiley
a - Incumbent Wiley was first appointed to the chamber in 2005.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Larry Wiley: 2,021
Sophia M. DiCaro: 2,216 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Alain Balmanno: 3,340
LaVar Christensen: 5,915 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Craig Hall
a - Incumbent Hall was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Elizabeth Muniz: 1,955
Craig Hall: 2,788 
Democratic convention candidates:
Note: Dean A. Campbell withdrew before the primary.
Republican convention candidates:
- Johnny Anderson
a - Incumbent Anderson was first appointed to the chamber in 2009.
November 4 General election candidates:
Karen Kwan: 3,408
Johnny Anderson: 3,901 
Democratic convention candidates:
- Mark A. Wheatley
a - Incumbent Wheatley was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian:
Independent American:
November 4 General election candidates:
Mark A. Wheatley: 3,202 
Eileen Lentz: 1,611
Chelsea Travis: 215
Note: Schoppe withdrew before the general election.
Democratic convention candidates:
- Patrice Arent
a - Incumbent Arent was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Patrice Arent: 9,733 
Robert M. Book: 4,628
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Independent American candidates:
Note: Wallace McCormick withdrew before the election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Carol Spackman Moss: 6,791 
Ron Hilton: 4,470
June 24 Democratic primary:
Republican convention candidates:
- Eric Hutchings
a - Incumbent Hutchings was first appointed to the chamber in 2001.
Note: David W. Howick was removed from the candidate list.
November 4 General election candidates:
Chrystal Butterfield: 2,009
Eric Hutchings: 2,776 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jim Dunnigan
a - Incumbent Dunnigan was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Dunnigan: 5,683 
Note: Incumbent Lynn Hemingway (D) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Justin J. Miller: 5,484 
Peter L. Kraus: 3,021
Rainer Huck: 482
Note: Kniffing was disqualified from running in the general election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Dan McCay
a - Incumbent McCay was first appointed to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Colleen Bliss: 2,797
Dan McCay: 6,685 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Nicholas Y. DeLand: 2,107
Kim Coleman: 4,804 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Earl Tanner
a - Incumbent Tanner was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Diane Lewis: 2,930
Earl Tanner: 3,968 
Note: Incumbent Tim Cosgrove (D) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Christine Passey: 4,155
Bruce R. Cutler: 4,208 
Bret Black: 311
Democratic convention candidates:
Note: Wendy S. Davis withdrew before the primary.
Republican convention candidates:
- Steve Eliason
a - Incumbent Eliason was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Susan Marques Booth: 3,531
Steve Eliason: 4,908 
Democratic convention candidates:
- Marie H. Poulson
a - Incumbent Poulson was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Marie H. Poulson: 6,248 
William Clayton: 4,816
Lee Anne Walker: 494
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Ken Ivory
a - Incumbent Ivory was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Alena M. Balmforth: 2,413
Ken Ivory: 4,634 
Democratic convention candidates:
Note: Janita U. Andersen withdrew before the primary.
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Keven J. Stratton: 6,343 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Robert Spendlove
a - Incumbent Spendlove was first appointed to the chamber in 2014.
November 4 General election candidates:
Zach Robinson: 4,985
Robert Spendlove: 6,575 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Gabriel Morazan: 2,468
Rich L. Cunningham: 8,554 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Kyle Waters: 2,507
Greg Hughes: 4,742 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- John Knotwell
a - Incumbent Knotwell was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Daniel Paget: 1,865
John Knotwell: 6,055 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Ray L. Worthen: 3,509
Melvin R. Brown: 7,304 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Glenn J. Wright: 3,875
Kraig Powell: 6,262 
Note: Incumbent John Mathis (R) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Note: Del R. Brady and Darlene R. Burns withdrew before the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Scott H. Chew: 6,218 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Kay J. Christofferson: 6,750 
Note: Byrge withdrew before the general election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Michael J. Plowman: 1,341
Brian M. Greene: 6,317 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jon Cox
a - Incumbent Cox was first appointed to the chamber in 2013.
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jon Cox: 7,015 
Note: Van Horn was disqualified from the general election ballot.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Val L. Peterson
a - Incumbent Peterson was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Val L. Peterson: 4,961 
Democratic convention candidates:
June 24 Republican primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Archie A. Williams, III: 968
Bradley Daw: 5,553 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Keith Grover
a - Incumbent Grover was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Robert C. Patterson: 1,075
Keith Grover: 4,414 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Jon Stanard
a - Incumbent Stanard was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Shirley J. Nelson: 1,255
Jon Stanard: 5,391 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dean Sanpei: 1,749 
Note: Incumbent Rebecca Lockhart (R) did not run for re-election.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Scott Ellis Ferrin: 819
Norm Thurston: 2,635 
Jason Christensen: 432
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Francis D. Gibson: 5,817 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Zachary Lewis: 953
Mike McKell: 5,155 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Marc Roberts
a - Incumbent Roberts was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Marc Roberts: 4,681 
Note: Parkin was disqualified from the general election ballot.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Merrill Nelson
a - Incumbent Nelson was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
Note: Cindy Vincent withdrew from election.
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Merrill Nelson: 6,828 
Note: Rowley was disqualified from the general election ballot.
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Brad King: 5,298
Bill Labrum: 4,223
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Kay L. McIff
a - Incumbent McIff was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
Constitution candidates:
Independent American candidates:
Note: Leonard Brown withdrew before the election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kalen Jones: 2,151
Kay L. McIff: 5,955 
R. Glenn Stoneman: 1,213
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Brad Last
a - Incumbent Last was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kenneth Roderick Anderson: 1,513
Brad Last: 6,782 
Democratic convention candidates:
June 24 Republican primary:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
John R. Westwood: 5,210 
Barry Evan Short: 990
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Michael Noel
a - Incumbent Noel was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Michael Noel: 8.049 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- V. Lowry Snow
a - Incumbent Snow was first appointed to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Dorothy A. Engelman: 2,315
V. Lowry Snow: 7,229 
Democratic convention candidates:
Republican convention candidates:
- Don L. Ipson
a - Incumbent Ipson was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Independent American candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Cheryl Fae Hawker: 1,023
Don L. Ipson: 4,680 
Nihla W. Judd: 1,444
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- ↑ Qualifications for running for Utah Senate
- ↑ utahcitizennetwork.org, "How Utah’s Caucus System Works," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Utah Republican Party, "Bylaws," accessed April 15, 2014(Section 7.D)
- ↑ Utah Democratic Party, "Bylaws," accessed April 15, 2014(Section 4)
- ↑ ‘’Utah Lieutenant Governor: Elections’’, “2014 Candidate Filings”, accessed October 17, 2014