Enjoying the Blue Asteroid of 2026
Hello Democrats!
Weber is blue!
I can hear the collective exhale, feel the collective sigh, enjoy the collective high. Tuesday’s election was historic, and not just nationally. The Blue Asteroid that we all created may be enough to kill off the dinosaurs and put an end to some of their archaic ideas.
First off, WOW! And by WOW I mean - Women of Weber. Weber County will be sending Kim James, Angela Choberka, and Dr. Rosemary Lesser to the Utah House, and CJ Hernandez to the Utah Senate. I know they will be the voices we need, the fighters we depend on, representing the most vulnerable among us. Congratulations to you all, and thanks to everyone who supported their campaigns.
Weber County has done it’s part (and then some) in breaking the GOP supermajority in the Utah legislature for the first time in decades. The Democrats across Utah have flipped or could still flip 14 seats, with independents picking up another 2. The GOP has had a legislative supermajority for the past 30 years. This is an historic shift that will have massive impact on how we are governed - bad bills won’t just get rubber stamped into law. And, assuming we all continue to fight, we can hold our elected officials accountable, and turn every district in the state into a competitive race.
Statewide, it looks like we have flipped 3 School Board seats and our own Zach Thomas has won in his Ogden School Board race. These seats are incredibly important in helping to ensure that our children - all of our children - have fair and equal access to responsible and accurate education.
On the national level, Utah is now sending a democrat to Congress (thanks to the redistricting map that was upheld by our Utah state courts). Also important - all Senate and House Committees will be led by Democrats. Which means Sen. Mike Lee no longer controls the Senate committee on Energy and Natural Resources. I foresee fewer terrible bills meant to sell off our public lands making it to the floor and becoming law.
Spend a few days celebrating and relishing the wins. We’ve all needed this. But then we need to keep the fight going. We didn’t win here because of what we did in 2026 or even 2025. We are winning because of fights that have been going on since before Utah was a state. Every organizer, every non profit, every advocate, every voter needs to keep working. The ripple effects of every single win, every loss are immeasurable.
I’m hearing that people don’t vote because they don’t know why they should vote. So as we look to the 2027 municipal elections, start talking to friends and neighbors about the impact that mayors and city councils have on their day to day lives - potholes, parking, policing and more.
Congratulations on a great 2026 - and let’s get even stronger in 2027!
Kate McNeel
Secretary
Weber County Democratic Party
Community, Opportunity, Solidarity
