Utah State Senate elections, 2014
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Elections for theUtah State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature 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 theUtah State Senate. The chamber was controlled by theRepublican Party, which saw no net change to their seats held. TheDemocratic Party suffered a net loss of one seat, dropping from 5 to 4 seats. The number of vacant seats in the chamber increased from one to two seats following the general election.
Incumbents retiring
A total of two incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Patricia Jones |  Democratic | Senate District 04 |
| Stuart C. Reid |  Republican | Senate District 18 |
Majority control
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in theUtah State Senate:
| Utah State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 5 | 4 | |
| Republican Party | 23 | 23 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 2 | |
| Total | 29 | 29 | |
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In two (14.3%) of the 14 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of one Republican and one Democrat were guaranteed election in November barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 12 (85.7%) of the 14 districts up for election.
Convention challenges
A total of three incumbents faced convention competition for their party's nomination. One incumbent faced primary competition. Two incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another eight incumbents advanced past the convention without opposition. The state senators in the primary convention were:
- District 12: IncumbentDaniel W. Thatcher defeatedVicki Griffith in the Republican convention.
- District 22: IncumbentStuart Adams defeatedChad Curvin in the Republican convention.
- District 26: IncumbentKevin Van Tassell defeatedSusan Hacking Horrocks in the Republican convention.
Primary challenges
The senator that faced primary competition was:
- District 28: IncumbentEvan Vickers defeatedCasey Anderson in the Republican primary.
Retiring incumbents
Two incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 12 (85.7%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, one Republican and one Democrat, can be foundabove.
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in theUtah State Senate, 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
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
District 2
Democratic convention candidates:- Jim Dabakis
a - Incumbent Dabakis was first appointed to the chamber in 2012.
- Jim Dabakis
Republican convention candidates:
- June 24 Republican primary:
- Jacquie Nielson: 1,012a
- George Chapman: 666
- Jacquie Nielson: 1,012
November 4 General election candidates:
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- Jim Dabakis: 16,446
- Jacquie Nielson: 5,724
District 3
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Gene Davisa - Incumbent Davis was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
- Gene Davis
- Republican convention candidates:
- No candidates filed.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Gene Davis: 12,961
District 4
Note: IncumbentPatricia Jones (D) did not run for re-election.
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jani Iwamoto: 19,602
- Sabrina R. Petersen: 13,084
District 5
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Karen Maynea - Incumbent Mayne was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
- Karen Mayne
- Republican convention candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Karen Mayne: 10,225
Note: Burnside withdrew before the general election.
District 9
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Wayne Niederhausera - Incumbent Niederhauser was first appointed to the chamber in 2006.
- Wayne Niederhauser
November 4 General election candidates:
- Kathryn C. Gustafson: 9,943
- Wayne Niederhauser: 15,822
District 11
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Howard A. Stephensona - Incumbent Stephenson was first elected to the chamber in 1992.
- Howard A. Stephenson
November 4 General election candidates:
- Michele Weeks: 7,713
- Howard A. Stephenson: 13,195
District 12
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Daniel W. Thatchera - Incumbent Thatcher was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Vicki Griffith
- Daniel W. Thatcher
November 4 General election candidates:
- Clare Collard: 5,998
- Daniel W. Thatcher: 8,548
District 15
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Margaret Daytona - Incumbent Dayton was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
- Margaret Dayton
November 4 General election candidates:
- Emmanuel "Manny" Kepas: 2,548
- Margaret Dayton: 11,290
District 17
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Peter C. Knudsona - Incumbent Knudson was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
- Peter C. Knudson
Constitution candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Scott Totman: 2,949
- Peter C. Knudson: 14,431
- Kirk D. Pearson: 1,939
District 18
Note: IncumbentStuart C. Reid (R) did not run for re-election.
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Mat Wenzel: 4,155
- Ann Millner: 11,603
Note: Steffner was disqualified before the general election.
District 21
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Jerry W. Stevensona - Incumbent Stevenson was first appointed to the chamber in 2010.
- Jerry W. Stevenson
November 4 General election candidates:
- Sherri Tatton: 3,309
- Jerry W. Stevenson: 11,950
District 22
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- J. Stuart Adamsa - Incumbent Adams was first appointed to the chamber in 2009.
- Chad Lee Curvin
- J. Stuart Adams
- Libertarian candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Kip Sayre: 4,417
- J. Stuart Adams: 16,605
- Brent Zimmerman: 1,643
District 26
- Democratic convention candidates:
- Republican convention candidates:
- Susan Hacking Horrocks
- Kevin T. Van Tassella - Incumbent Van Tassell was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Wayne Stevens: 6,622
- Kevin T. Van Tassell: 15,249
District 28
- Democratic convention candidates:
- No candidates filed.
- June 24 Republican primary:
- Casey O. Anderson: 2,656
- Evan J. Vickers: 5,390a - Incumbent Vickers was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
- Evan J. Vickers: 16,613
See also
External links
- Utah Lieutenant Governor - Official 2014 General Election Results - Downloadable
- Utah Lieutenant Governor - 2014 General Election Results
- Utah Lieutenant Governor - 2014 Primary Election Results
- Utah Lieutenant Governor - 2014 Candidate Filings
