Republican Reps. Mike Kennedy and Blake Moore won new terms in Congress, as race calls Thursday settled Utah's House delegation and left Democrat Ben McAdams as the only newcomer, in the 1st District.
Kennedy, a freshman, captured about 53% of the vote in the 4th District against Democrat Jonny Larsen, who had nearly 40%. His was the last of the state's four congressional contests to be decided, called at 6:43 p.m. Thursday.
Larsen has not conceded. He said 88,000 to 100,000 votes still had to be counted and told supporters to watch the state's official results, which are not final until county and state canvasses wrap up Nov. 23.
Moore claimed victory Tuesday night in the newly drawn 2nd District, finishing with 50.26% and roughly 8 percentage points ahead of Democrat Peter Crosby. Rep. Celeste Maloy, a Republican incumbent, had already been declared the winner in the 3rd District on election night.
Crosby conceded Thursday on social media and wished Moore well, but urged him to put legislation for ordinary Utahns and time in the district ahead of leadership ambitions or committee posts. Kennedy said in a post that he would work with others when possible and stand firm when necessary.
As his constituent, I hope he will take from this election a recognition that we, the people of Northern Utah, are not happy,
Peter Crosby, Democratic candidate in Utah's 2nd District
Legislature tilts away from GOP
The bigger shake-up may come in the Utah Legislature. As of 8:15 p.m. Thursday, 13 Democrats and two independents led Republicans by more than 100 votes in GOP-held House seats, a shift that would likely end a Republican supermajority in that chamber dating back at least 26 years.
Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, trailed Democrat Shana Anderson by more than 3,800 votes, putting him on course to be the highest-ranking incumbent defeated. He had been seen as a leading candidate to run the Senate after Senate President Stuart Adams lost a June primary.
Sen. Emily Buss, the Legislature's lone third-party member and part of the Utah Forward Party, was behind Republican Brooks Benson by fewer than 200 votes. Counting continues statewide, and results could shift in the coming days.
Justice survives ouster push
Associate Chief Justice Jill Pohlman, the top-ranking member of the Utah Supreme Court since the chief justice resigned earlier this year, kept her seat with more than 76% voting to retain her.
Her win came despite open Republican calls to remove her. Outgoing Rep. Burgess Owens made the pitch at a rally, and state GOP Chairman Rob Axson pressed delegates at the party's nominating convention, after the court ruled against lawmakers in cases including abortion and redistricting.
Former Justice Diana Hagen was the other target of that campaign, but she left the bench in May, with a state probe tied to an alleged relationship looming, so Pohlman was the only justice on the ballot.
