Editing Utah (section)

===Politics===

{{further|Political party strength in Utah|United States presidential elections in Utah}}
{| class="wikitable floatright"
! colspan = 6 | Party registration in Utah <br> as of October 21, 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Current Voter Registration Statistics|access-date=October 27, 2024 |url=https://voteinfo.utah.gov/current-voter-registration-statistics/}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (US)}}
| [[Utah Republican Party|Republican]]
| align=center | 1,016,409
| align=center | 50.17%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent politician}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align=center | 587,128
| align=center | 28.98%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (US)}}
| [[Utah Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| align=center | 286,990
| align=center | 14.17%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other parties (US)}}
|[[List of political parties in the United States|Other]]
| align=center | 135,227
| align=center | 6.68%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align=center | 2,025,754
! align=center | 100.00%
|}
[[File:Utah State Capitol Building.JPG|thumb|The [[Utah State Capitol]], Salt Lake City]]
[[File:Mathesoncourthouse.jpg|thumb|The Scott Matheson Courthouse is the seat of the Utah Supreme Court.]]

In the late 19th century, the federal government took issue with polygamy in the LDS Church. The LDS Church discontinued plural marriage in 1890, and in 1896 Utah gained admission to the Union. Many new people settled in the area soon after the Mormon pioneers. Relations have often been strained between the LDS population and the non-LDS population.<ref>{{Citation | last = Allen | first = James B. | title = Utah History Encyclopedia | publisher = University of Utah Press | year = 1994 | chapter = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | chapter-url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/c/CHURCH_OF_JESUS_CHRIST_OF_LATTER-DAY_SAINTS.shtml | url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231207195903/https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/c/CHURCH_OF_JESUS_CHRIST_OF_LATTER-DAY_SAINTS.shtml | archive-date = December 7, 2023 | isbn =9780874804256 | access-date = March 29, 2024}}</ref> These tensions have played a large part in Utah's history ([[Liberal Party (Utah)|Liberal Party]] vs. [[People's Party (Utah)|People's Party]]).

Utah votes predominantly Republican. Self-identified Latter-day Saints are more likely to vote for the Republican ticket than non-Mormons. Utah is one of the most Republican states in the nation.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Mormon, GOP Link Doomed Democrats: Religion statistics paint a bleak picture for party |last= Harrie |first= Dan |date= December 6, 2002 |newspaper= [[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |id= [[NewsBank]] Archive Article ID: 100DFA0561F7801E }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= Utah No. 1 in approval of Bush |url= https://www.deseret.com/2006/7/28/19965842/utah-no-1-in-approval-of-bush/ |last= Bernick |first= Bob Jr. |date= July 28, 2006 |newspaper= [[Deseret Morning News]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104173039/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/640198210/Utah-No-1-in-approval-of-Bush.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Utah was the single most [[Republican Party (U.S.)|Republican]]-leaning state in the country in every presidential election from [[1976 United States presidential election in Utah|1976]] to [[2004 United States presidential election in Utah|2004]], measured by the percentage point margin between the Republican and [[Democratic Party (U.S.)|Democratic]] candidates. In [[2008 United States presidential election in Utah|2008]] Utah was only the third-most Republican state (after [[Wyoming]] and [[Oklahoma]]), but in [[2012 United States presidential election in Utah|2012]], with Mormon [[Mitt Romney]] atop the Republican ticket, Utah returned to its position as the most Republican state. However, the [[2016 United States presidential election in Utah|2016 presidential election]] result saw Republican [[Donald Trump]] carry the state (marking the thirteenth consecutive win by the Republican presidential candidate) with only a plurality, the first time this happened since [[1992 United States presidential election in Utah|1992]].

Both of Utah's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]], [[John Curtis]] and [[Mike Lee]], are Republican, as are all four of its [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representatives]]. [[Ben McAdams]] is the most recent Democrat to represent Utah in Congress, representing the [[Utah's 4th congressional district|4th congressional district]], based in [[Salt Lake City]], from 2019 to 2021. He lost re-election to [[Burgess Owens]], a Republican, in 2020. After Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China in 2009, [[Gary Herbert]] was sworn in as governor on August 11, 2009. Herbert was elected to serve out the remainder of the term in a special election in 2010, defeating Democratic nominee Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon with 64% of the vote. He won election to a full four-year term in 2012, defeating the Democrat Peter Cooke with 68% of the vote.

The LDS Church maintains an official policy of neutrality about political parties and candidates.<ref name=neutrality>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/official-statement/political-neutrality|title=Political Neutrality|access-date=December 11, 2010|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627224935/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/official-statement/political-neutrality|archive-date=June 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1970s, then-[[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Apostle]] [[Ezra Taft Benson]] was quoted by the [[Associated Press]] that it would be difficult for a faithful Latter-day Saint to be a liberal Democrat.<ref name="Marlin Jensen">{{cite news|title= GOP Dominance Troubles Church; It hurts Utah, says general authority, disavowing any perceived Republican-LDS Link; LDS Official Calls for More Political Diversity |last=Harrie |first=Dan |date=May 3, 1998 |newspaper=[[Salt Lake Tribune]]}}</ref> Although the LDS Church has officially repudiated such statements on many occasions, Democratic candidates—including LDS Democrats—believe Republicans capitalize on the perception that the Republican Party is doctrinally superior.<ref>{{cite news|title=Utah's theocratic past colors church-state perceptions |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030517/ai_n11388083 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425032955/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030517/ai_n11388083/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 25, 2011 |last=Henetz |first=Patty |date=May 17, 2003 |newspaper=[[Deseret Morning News]] }}</ref> Political scientist and pollster Dan Jones explains this disparity by noting that the national Democratic Party is associated with liberal positions on gay marriage and abortion, both of which the LDS Church is against.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pollster: Demos share blame for GOP lock on Utah |last=Winters |first=Rosemary |date=August 14, 2006 |newspaper=[[Salt Lake Tribune]]}}</ref> The Republican Party in heavily Mormon Utah County presents itself as the superior choice for Latter-day Saints. Even though Utah Democratic candidates are predominantly LDS, socially conservative, and pro-life, no Democrat has won in Utah County since 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |title= A lonely place for Demos |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650204528/A-lonely-place-for-Demos.html |last= Walsh |first= Tad |date= November 5, 2006 |newspaper= [[Deseret Morning News]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104173532/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650204528/A-lonely-place-for-Demos.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[David Magleby]], dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences at [[Brigham Young University]], a lifelong Democrat and a political analyst, asserts that the Republican Party has more conservative positions than the LDS Church. Magleby argues that the locally conservative Democrats are in better accord with LDS doctrine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Far Right Wing of Utah GOP at Odds With LDS Positions |last=Rolly |first=Paul |date=April 28, 2002 |newspaper=[[Salt Lake Tribune]]}}</ref> For example, the Republican Party of Utah opposes almost all abortions while Utah Democrats take a more liberal approach, although more conservative than their national counterparts. On [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] issues, the state GOP has been at odds with the LDS Church's position opposing concealed firearms in places of worship and public spaces.

In 1998, the church expressed concern that Utahns perceived the Republican Party as an LDS institution and authorized lifelong Democrat and [[Quorums of the Seventy|Seventy]] [[Marlin K. Jensen|Marlin Jensen]] to promote LDS bipartisanship.<ref name="Marlin Jensen"/>

Utah is much more conservative than the United States as a whole, primarily on [[social conservatism in the United States|social issues]]. Compared to other Republican-dominated states in the Mountain West such as [[Idaho]] and [[Wyoming]], Utah politics have a more moralistic and less [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] character, according to David Magleby.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Utah conservatives put U.S. peers to shame |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/270020446/Utah-conservatives-put-US-peers-to-shame.html |last= Bernick |first= Bob Jr. |date= May 21, 2001 |newspaper= [[Deseret Morning News]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104173227/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/270020446/Utah-conservatives-put-US-peers-to-shame.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

About 80% of Utah's Legislature are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,<ref>{{Cite news |title= Letter by LDS leaders cheers Utah Democrats |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/635191859/Letter-by-LDS-leaders-cheers-Utah-Democrats.html |last= Bernick |first= Bob Jr. |date= March 15, 2006 |newspaper= [[Deseret Morning News]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104173709/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/635191859/Letter-by-LDS-leaders-cheers-Utah-Democrats.html |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while members account for 61 percent of the population.<ref name="Canham 2007-11-18">{{Cite news |url= http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7496034 |title= Utah less Mormon than ever |first= Matt |last= Canham |newspaper= [[Salt Lake Tribune]] |date= November 18, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104171722/http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7496034 |archive-date= November 4, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since becoming a state in 1896, Utah has had only two non-Mormon governors.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Church's Growth, Structure and Reach |url= https://www.pbs.org/mormons/faqs/structure.html#2 |publisher= [[PBS]] |year= 2007 |website= [[The Mormons (miniseries)|The Mormons]] |access-date= September 3, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170904015637/https://www.pbs.org/mormons/faqs/structure.html#2 |archive-date= September 4, 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 2006, the legislature passed legislation aimed at banning joint custody for a non-biological parent of a child. The custody measure passed the legislature and was vetoed by the governor, a reciprocal benefits supporter.

Carbon County's Democrats are generally made up of members of the large [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Italians|Italian]], and [[Balkans|Southeastern European]] communities, whose ancestors migrated in the early 20th century to work in the extensive mining industry. The views common amongst this group are heavily influenced by [[labor union|labor politics]], particularly of the [[New Deal]] Era.<ref>{{Citation | last = Powell | first = Allan Kent | title = Utah History Encyclopedia | publisher = University of Utah Press | year = 1994 | chapter = The United Mine Workers of America | chapter-url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/u/UNITED_MINE_WORKERS.shtml | url = https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221103115823/https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/u/UNITED_MINE_WORKERS.shtml | archive-date = November 3, 2022 | isbn =9780874804256 | access-date = March 29, 2024}}</ref>

The state's most Republican areas tend to be Utah County, which is the home to [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) in the city of Provo, and nearly all the rural counties.<ref>[http://www.le.state.ut.us/asp/roster/roster.asp Roster of Utah State Legislators] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117065412/http://www.le.state.ut.us/asp/roster/roster.asp |date=November 17, 2006 }}, Utah State Legislature</ref><ref>[http://www.le.state.ut.us/documents/redistricting/redist.htm 2001 Redistricting of Utah] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924202331/http://www.le.state.ut.us/documents/redistricting/redist.htm |date=September 24, 2006 }}: Official maps of district boundaries, Utah State Legislature</ref> These areas generally hold socially conservative views in line with that of the national [[Christian right|Religious Right]]. The most Democratic areas of the state lie currently in and around Salt Lake City proper.

The state has not voted for a Democrat for president since [[1964 United States presidential election in Utah|1964]]. Historically, Republican presidential nominees score one of their best margins of victory here. Utah was the Republicans' best state in the [[1976 United States presidential election in Utah|1976]],<ref>Leip, David. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1976&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 1976 Presidential Election Data—National by State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917064533/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1976&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |date=September 17, 2011 }}, uselectionatlas.org ("David Leip's Atlas of Presidential Elections"). Retrieved March 20, 2008.</ref> [[1980 United States presidential election in Utah|1980]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title= 1980 Presidential Election Data—National by State |place= US |publisher= Election atlas |access-date= July 31, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090112162346/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |archive-date= January 12, 2009 |url-status= live }}</ref> [[1984 United States presidential election in Utah|1984]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1984&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title = 1984 Presidential Election Data—National by State |publisher = Uselectionatlas.org |access-date = July 31, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112115621/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1984&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |archive-date = January 12, 2009 |url-status = live }}</ref> [[1988 United States presidential election in Utah|1988]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1988&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | title = 1988 Presidential Election Data—National by State | place = US | publisher = Election atlas | access-date = July 31, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112001840/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1988&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | archive-date = January 12, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> [[1996 United States presidential election in Utah|1996]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1996&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=1996 Presidential Election Data—National by State |place=US |publisher=Election atlas |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112115626/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1996&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2000 United States presidential election in Utah|2000]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2000&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title = 2000 Presidential Election Data—National by State |place = US |publisher = Election atlas |access-date = July 31, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112113426/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2000&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |archive-date = January 12, 2009 |url-status = live }}</ref> [[2004 United States presidential election in Utah|2004]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | title = 2004 Presidential Election Data—National by State | place = US | publisher = Election atlas | access-date = July 31, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110914003136/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | archive-date = September 14, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref> and [[2012 United States presidential election in Utah|2012]] elections. In [[1992 United States presidential election in Utah|1992]], Utah was the only state in the nation where Democratic candidate Bill Clinton finished behind both Republican candidate George HW Bush and Independent candidate [[Ross Perot]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1992&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | title = 1992 Presidential Election Data—National by State | place = US | publisher = Election atlas | access-date = July 31, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112034439/http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1992&datatype=national&def=1&f=1&off=0&elect=0 | archive-date = January 12, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2004, Republican George W. Bush won every county in the state and Utah gave him his largest margin of victory of any state. He won the state's five electoral votes by a margin of 46 percentage points with 71.5% of the vote. In the 1996 Presidential elections the Republican candidate received a smaller 54% of the vote while the Democrat earned 34%.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Whitson | first = James R | url = http://www.presidentelect.org/e1996.html | title = Presidential Election 1996 | website= The Unofficial Homepage of the Electoral College | access-date = March 20, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080319061432/http://presidentelect.org/e1996.html | archive-date = March 19, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2020, the [[Associated Press]] wrote a piece profiling Utah's political culture during [[2020 United States presidential election|that year's presidential election]]. The article noted a more bipartisan and cooperative environment, along with conservative support of liberal causes such as LGBT rights and marijuana use, despite the Republican dominance in the state and the political polarization seen in other parts of the U.S. at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-race-and-ethnicity-utah-immigration-elections-c555c83c3439c8753502131e6ab63c9f|title=AP ROAD TRIP: Amid American rancor, a dash of Utah Nice|publisher=Associated Press|last=Sullivan|first=Tim|date=December 17, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2021}}</ref>