As ballots continue to be counted from this year’s election, some preliminary voter data shows only two places in the nation may have resisted the nationwide red wave — Washington state and Utah.
You read that right: Utah.
“Almost all counties in the nation shifted to the right. However, in Utah it seems like we either stayed pretty even or that Vice-President Harris garnered more Democratic votes. We’re still trying to sort through things, but it’s interesting that she got a higher vote percentage than any Democratic candidate for president since LBJ won the state in 1964,” said Morgan Lyon Cotti, the deputy director of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics.
To be clear: Utah remains a reliably Republican state. From the presidency on down, Republicans dominated the elections. But Democrats have held on to their legislative seats (and may pick up one depending on how some close races shake out). Voter data from previous election cycles does signal Salt Lake County, which is the state’s most populous, has tilted a little further to the left. Harris also won Summit and Grand counties. The Financial Times has been tracking national voting trends and currently lists Utah as holding steady (if not skewing slightly to the left).