Equality Utah Endorsees Win or Lead in 36 of 41
Unofficial 2026 results show Utah voters broadly backed the advocacy group's endorsed candidates, though counties must certify the outcomes after the November 23 canvass.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
Candidates endorsed by Equality Utah's Political Action Committee won or led in 36 of 41 races, according to unofficial results updated Tuesday. All four Republican endorsees lost their races, while all 30 Democratic endorsees won or are leading.
Why it matters
The results reflect a sharp political realignment in Utah, which saw the largest shift toward Democrats in the nation, about 30 percentage points since 2022. Republicans also lost their supermajority in the state House for the first time in roughly three decades.
Equality Utah endorsees won or led in 28 of 33 contested races, and Republican Brooks Benson leads Sen. Emily Buss by 512 votes in Senate District 11. Final outcomes depend on county certification after the November 23 canvass.
The players
Equality Utah
Equality Utah is an LGBTQ advocacy organization in Utah whose political action committee issues candidate endorsements.
Sen. Emily Buss
Emily Buss is a Utah state senator who was appointed by Gov. Spencer Cox to fill a vacancy and is trailing in Senate District 11.
The details
Four Democratic endorsees unseated Republican incumbents: Angela Choberka, Blake Townsend, Drew Howells and Michael Finch, each of whom had received an F grade for Equal Rights from the Alliance for a Better Utah. Unaffiliated candidate Patrick Belmont leads Republican incumbent Rep. Jason Thompson by 2,008 votes in House District 3, while Democrat CJ Hernandez leads Republican Jill Koford in Senate District 5 by 3,578 votes.
Timeline
2022: Baseline year for Utah's shift toward Democrats.
2025: Sen. Daniel Thatcher left the Republican Party for the Forward Party.
Nov. 10, 2026: Unofficial results updated showing endorsee wins and leads.
Nov. 23, 2026: Counties certify results after the canvass.
Political Context
Utah's 2026 results mark the largest Democratic shift measured nationally since 2022, a change that Republicans have not yet publicly explained in detail. Opponents of Equality Utah's endorsements have argued the group's influence reflects a narrow advocacy agenda, though that counter-argument has not been tested against the final certified results.
Certified results will determine which party controls key Utah legislative seats, affecting future bills and committee assignments. Voters can check certified county results after the November 23 canvass to confirm final outcomes in their districts.
The takeaway
Election outcomes in Utah are not final until counties certify them, so close races can still shift before the November 23 canvass. Readers following specific districts should wait for certified totals rather than unofficial updates.
What happens next
County canvass certification concludes November 23, 2026, which will finalize the close races, including Senate District 11.
Further reading
For broader context on how these races fit into state politics, explore Elections coverage across Utah.
