From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 15 min
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