Doing political things. Certified BLUTAH believer. š Past: @KingForUtah @UtahDemocrats. Opinions here are my own. š³ļøāš
Salt Lake City, UT
Joined November 2014
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Ben Anderson retweeted
Let's hear it, Utahns: Agree or disagree?
"If there is a lesson from last night, it's that Democrats in Utah should never, ever again accept somebody telling them that 'Blutah' is a fantasy and that it can't happen," @steve_pierce told me.
Ben Anderson retweeted
This is wild.
Coming into the election, Democrats controlled 14 House seats in Salt Lake County, and Republicans had 13.
As of Thursday afternoon, Republicans only have the lead in 4 of those seats: HD45, HD46, HD47 and HD49. #utpol
Ben Anderson retweeted
This has been the most beautiful thing I have watched this cycle and ever. Iām hopeful for the future of Utah politics. Iām hopeful for my home state. For the people of Utah. Iāve been saying this is possible, I know itās possible. And it will happen sooner than later
Huh, itās funny, I somehow must have missed the part in this analysis where itās suggested that maybe the legislature should try, idk, NOT sneering at the will of the voters, focusing on unpopular culture war policies, and trying to increase their own power at all costs.
Hereās my random assortment of thoughts about Utah GOP politics following yesterday.
I see 7 GOP women in Utah currently holding / about to hold office again who are positioned well for big races in 2028:
Deidre Henderson
Tina Cannon
Celeste Maloy
Michelle Kaufusi
Karianne Lisonbee
Aimee Winder Newton
Dawn Ramsey
Different strengths and styles. Some can point to publicly known moments where theyāve stood alone or have been the first to speak out on an issue. Some can point to their track records of rock solid results for their constituents. Some have a strong base of support from conservatives; others can point to swinging unaffiliated votes their way. All of these women work hard and connect with everyday Utahns when they are on the campaign trail.
I also canāt help but notice the electoral performances of Ariel Defay, Kristen Chevrier, Tami Tran, Stephanie Hollist, and Lili Bitner. Ariel joined the Utah House for the 2024 session & Kristen for 2025, and Tami, Stephanie, and Lili are all newcomers to the legislature. Yes, those women were all expected to win, but they really dominated in Davis and Utah Counties, which had mixed bags of blowouts and tight races. And in a night full of surprises, they stood out. I had a chance to observe Tami, Stephanie, and Liliās primary races this year, and I can attest to their work ethic and retail campaign effectiveness. They deserve their flowers.
In SLCo, Doug Fiefia was the CLEAR GOP star of 2026. He is absolutely a rising star in the Utah GOP, and I respect and admire the ways heās campaigned and connected with the public in 2024 & 2026.
If Republicans in Utah want our state to stay RED, I think it would serve us well to get input from every Republican Iāve listed in this tweet.
Over the next two years we have an opportunity to rally behind some of these individuals (and others!) to serve in even greater leadership positions than where they are currently serving. I intentionally listed many so as to not isolate on any one individual. The point is, weāve got a bench of both experienced and emerging GOP talent who are winning in ways that are notable in Utahās current landscape.
Iād prefer Utah avoid what just happened to Texas last night. I believe we can, but it will take reflection, innovation, and nominating strong candidates who will energize voters and serve with a focus on the issues that Utahns care most about.
Right now those issues happen to be cost of living (housing, taxes) & corruption in govt. Locally the Utah GOP collectively missed the mark on addressing those issues this cycle.
If we blame our Utah GOP blood bath last night on purely national issues / blue wave, we will continue to lose races we could win and we will go the way of Colorado and Texas within the next 5-10 years.
There is no sweeter victory than watching Mike Schultz have to eat crow after shoveling hundreds of thousands of dollars into districts that Dems won last night by 30 points.
Ben Anderson retweeted
I know a lot of you have spent the last two years angry. Some of you have been scared. I've certainly felt both.
Fear is what they've been selling. Fear of your neighbor. Fear of the family who doesn't look like you or pray like you. Fear that nothing you do matters, so you might as well stay home.
But I want to tell you something about that anger you've been carrying. You don't get angry about something you've given up on. You donāt speak up unless you believe your voice could matter. You donāt protest unless you think someone might listen. You donāt show up unless some part of you still believes this place is worth fighting for.
That anger was hope the whole time. Anger doesnāt exist without hope. And hope is a powerful and effective tool. It looks at the way things are, imagines something better, and acts like it's already on the way.
Last night, we saw what it does when you put it to work. Fear tells you to lock the door and keep your head down. Hope tells you to open it. This district opened the door. And I promise you, I won't let that hope go to waste.
Ben Anderson retweeted
BREAKING: Democrats just BROKE the GOP's supermajority in the Utah House!
Theyāve put an end to unchecked Republican power in the chamber.
Ben Anderson retweeted
FLIPPED SEATS: Despite overnight results, these are the Republican incumbents in Utah poised to lose their seats if current results hold, breaking the GOP supermajority in the Utah legislature.
Kirk Cullimore (Senate majority leader)
Jill Koford (Senate)
Jason Thompson
Tiara Auxier
Jason Kyle
Jake Sawyer
Melissa Garff Ballard
Matt Macpherson
Anthony Loubet
Jim Dunnigan
Chris McConnehey
Ken Ivory
Clint Okerlund
Steve Eliason
Jordan Teuscher
Jake Hunsaker
Luke Searle
Norm Thurston
Two other House seats appear to have flipped as well but there werenāt incumbents running.
@abc4utah
Ben Anderson retweeted
Incredible stat right now from Utah:
Total House Vote
Republicans: ~325K
Democrats: ~342K
The Democrats are winning the generic ballot in Utah right now by D+4. Still a lot to be counted, but no statewide race masks one of the bluest shifts in the nation.
Ben Anderson retweeted
If current results hold, Utah House Republicans are at risk of losing their supermajority, with 17 House seats and two Senate seats (including a top Senate leader) poised to flip, according to aggregated election data from @MorganandMay.
These numbers would put the House GOP with 44 of 50 needed for a supermajority.
The Senate looks to be holding its supermajority. Note: The SD-11 race is too close to call. Below are the sitting lawmakers currently at risk. @abc4utah #utpol
Ben Anderson retweeted
if you don't doomscroll the entire day, you WILL be the reason republicans win today. don't eat. don't go to the bathroom. don't go to work. keep scrolling to SAVE DEMOCRACY!
Ben Anderson retweeted
NEW AMENDMENT B POLLING: @NoblePredictive numbers now show 56% of Utahns oppose Amendment B, a stark flip from similar polling a month ago that showed 50% of Utahns supported it.
āAmendment B has a coalition problem. Democrats and Independents oppose it, and even Republicans are more likely to vote no than yes. Itās hard to build a winning coalition when youāre trailing in every party,ā Noble said.
Ben Anderson retweeted
Liz Oates is done waiting for leaders to stop kicking the can down the road on the issues that matter most to west-side communities.
HD27 deserves a leader who will listen, show up, and fight for the community they call home. Thatās Liz Oates.
sltrib.com/opinion/commentarā¦
Ben Anderson retweeted
Whoops
BREAKING: Utah state Rep. Trevor Lee has been charged with mortgage and communications fraud ksl.com/article/51629695/repā¦ #utpol @KSLcom @KSL5TV
Glad weāre not tolerating criminals!
BREAKING: Criminal charges were filed Monday by the Utah Attorney General's Office in 3rd District Court against Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, accusing him of fraud and forging documents to obtain a loan. ksl.com/article/51629695/repā¦
