Latter-day Saint Voters Shift Left in Midterms
Utah swung 14 percentage points toward Democrats compared with two years ago, with Latter-day Saint voters moving left alongside the national blue wave.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Latter-Day Saints
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Utah Democrats overperformed in the 2026 midterm elections, with the state swinging 14 percentage points toward Democrats compared with 2024. Latter-day Saint voters may have shifted leftward along with the national trend.
Why it matters
The shift breaks from decades of strong Latter-day Saint support for Republican presidential candidates in a state long considered a GOP stronghold. It suggests the Republican brand may be souring among a core Utah constituency amid inflation and the Iran war.
Latter-day Saint support for Trump was 52% in 2016 and 66% in 2024, while a February survey found 58% support among Utah Latter-day Saints. Whether members pull ahead of the national blue wave will not be clear until complete data and nationwide surveys are available.
The players
Alex Bass
An independent data scientist who analyzed election results in Latter-day Saint-heavy congressional districts across six states.
The New York Times
The newspaper whose estimates, drawn from election data and thousands of voter interviews, put Utah's swing at 14 percentage points toward Democrats.
The details
Independent analyst Alex Bass examined results in 20 congressional districts with the largest Latter-day Saint populations across six states. In Utah, House District 61 saw a Republican incumbent barely ahead of her Democratic challenger, while the Democrat in House District 62 appeared poised to flip a GOP-held seat.
Timeline
2007 to 2026: YouGov survey data shows Latter-day Saints moving leftward over this period.
Nov. 3, 2026: Midterm elections were held, with the blue wave reaching the East Coast.
Roadmap
Latter-day Saint voters backed Republican presidential candidates at roughly 72% to 80% from 2004 through 2012, before support fell to 52% in 2016 and recovered to 66% in 2024. The 2026 midterm results suggest that trajectory may be shifting again toward Democrats.
Voters in Utah's closely contested districts may see different representation in the state legislature as results are finalized. Residents tracking political trends can watch updated tallies as the remaining ballots are counted.
The takeaway
Political affiliation among faith communities can shift over time, and generational change may be part of the story. Watching multiple data sources and waiting for complete results helps clarify what is actually happening.
Further reading
Explore more on Latter-day Saints to see how faith communities are responding to changing political currents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
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