Latinos now hold historic majority on Salt Lake City Council
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The Salt Lake City Council entered a historic new era this week after its newest member, Erika Carlsen, the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, was sworn in on Monday.
The big picture: Not only did women and LGBTQ+ councilors secure a majority for the first time, but Latinos now hold an unprecedented four seats of the city's seven-member legislative body.
Why it matters: The moment reflects broader demographic and political changes underway in Utah's capital city and urban core, where Latinos, one of the state's fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups, make up nearly 1 in 5 residents.
Between the lines: That shift was evident in 2024 with the election of the Salt Lake County Council's first-ever Latino members: former state lawmaker Ross Romero and Carlos Moreno, a former political asylee from Venezuela.
What they're saying: "It's important that any decision-making body is reflective of the constituents it serves," Carlsen told Axios on Tuesday, noting that she wants to deliver results and improve the city for all residents.
By the numbers: Utah's Hispanic population has almost tripled since 2000, faster than the national average, according to state-level data Pew Research Center shared with Axios last year.
- Between 2010 and 2020, Utah's Latino population grew by almost 40%, according to a 2024 report by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
State of play: Alongside Carlsen, three other councilors identify as Latino: Eva Lopez Chavez, who is of Mexican descent; Victoria Petro, who is of Panamanian and Cuban descent; and Alejandro Puy, who hails from Argentina.
Zoom in: Puy, who runs the campaign consulting firm Landslide Political, told Axios that Latino candidates face an uphill battle when running for office. Many lack connections to fundraising networks or doubt their own abilities and qualifications to launch a campaign, he said.
- Puy, who moved to Utah in his early 20s to attend Brigham Young University, experienced those doubts firsthand.
- Before running for the seat in 2021, he said he worried that his accent would hinder his ability to seek public office.
- Nowadays, the second-term council member views it as a strength: "It is who I am," he said. "It tells my story."
What we're watching: Puy expects the momentum behind Latino political representation to continue, potentially extending to the 2027 mayoral race.
- No Latino has ever served as Salt Lake City mayor. The last two Latinos to run for the office were state Sen. Luz Escamilla and entrepreneur David Ibarra, both of whom lost their bids to Mayor Erin Mendenhall in 2019.
- "I would not be surprised if some great candidates run for mayor from the Latino community," Puy said.