Hello, Wednesday-after-election-night!

• Who's feeling perky?

🌧️ Today's weather: Chance of light rain, with a high of 51.

📱 Your local news, right in your feed. From the latest headlines to things to do around town, stay in the know with us on Instagram.

Today’s newsletter is 1,092 words — a 4-minute read.

Democrats appeared poised to take control of the Salt Lake County Council for the first time since 2011, according to unofficial election returns posted around 1:45am today.

Why it matters: If their lead stands, Democrats will oversee county spending, taxes and public services, alongside a Democratic county mayor.

• They'd also help shape the future downtown sports district and preparations for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

State of play: Democrats had an opening to take over the state's most populous county after three GOP-held seats were up for grabs on the legislative body.

• Republicans currently hold a narrow 5-4 majority.

Zoom in: Democrat Zach Robinson, a former Sandy City Council member, led with 65.1% of the vote against Republican Kathleen Anderson (32.7%) and Constitution Party candidate Gregory Beglarian (2.3%) in the race for the at-large seat, according to preliminary results.

• Democrat Luke Maynes, who serves on the Midvale Community Council, was ahead with 60% of the vote against Republican Mike Bird (39.9%) in District 3.
• Republican Traci Crockett, a former Bluffdale City Council member, was leading with 52.4% of the vote, narrowly outpacing Democrat Sara Cimmers (47.6%) in District 5.
• Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson, who's facing his first election after being appointed to the council last year, was overwhelmingly ahead with 86.4% of the vote over Libertarian Casey Poe (13.6%) in District 1.

Between the lines: The elections come as voters in the county grapple with cost-of-living pressures and rising home prices.

What's next: Election results must be certified by Nov. 17 under state law.

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams handily won Utah's 1st Congressional District race yesterday, securing his return to Washington, per the Associated Press.

Why it matters: McAdams will be the first Democrat to represent Utah in Congress since 2021, breaking the GOP's hold on the state's congressional delegation.

By the numbers: McAdams led with 71.9% of the vote, compared with GOP opponent Riley Owen, a 28-year-old intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve, who received 24.9%, according to unofficial results posted around 1:45am this morning.

• McAdams also fended off challenges from Libertarian Jesse West; Elias Montgomery, who's unaffiliated; and write-in candidate Babak "Bobby" Darvish.

The big picture: McAdams, who served one term in Congress, campaigned on a platform focused on affordability and repeatedly said his 2019 vote to impeach President Trump cost him a second term.

Catch up quick: McAdams' political comeback follows a yearslong redistricting battle over the state's congressional boundaries.

What they're saying: "This district is heavily urbanized," Damon Cann, a political science professor at Utah State University, told Axios. "That shift makes this district much more solidly Democratic than anything we've seen in Utah, maybe ever before."

Friction point: McAdams faced questions during the race about whether he could move beyond his moderate approach and embrace more progressive positions.

Flashback: McAdams unseated incumbent U.S. Rep. Mia Love in 2018 but lost his reelection bid to retired NFL player Burgess Owens in 2020.

• He previously served as a state senator and Salt Lake County mayor.

What we're watching: Whether McAdams will shift left to satisfy core progressives in his new district.

Go deeper

The GOP is expected to retain control over both houses of the Utah Legislature — but early election returns showed Democrats could flip some seats.

Why it matters: Just a few more blue seats could chip away at veto-proof majorities in a state where the Legislature consistently hews to the right of the Republican governor.

The latest: Here's where the most competitive races stood as of 6am today, per the state.

Senate District 5: In Weber and Morgan counties, state Rep. Jill Koford (R-Ogden) was behind Democrat CJ Hernandez, a former U.S. State Department employee, in the race to replace longtime Republican state Sen. Ann Millner.

• About 24,000 ballots were tallied, 4/5 of the 30,000 who voted in the district in 2022.

Senate District 19: Incumbent Republican Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore was trailing his Democratic challenger, U.S. Army Veteran Shana Anderson.

• About 30,000 votes were counted as of this morning — more than 60% of the 48,000 who voted in the district in 2022.

House District 10: Former state Rep. Rosemary Lesser was leading in the race for the Weber County seat she narrowly lost to Koford in 2024, this time running against Republican Jim Alvey.

• Fewer than 10,000 votes were counted in a district where nearly 16,000 voted in 2024.

House Districts 26 and 27: In two districts overlapping Magna and West Valley City, GOP state Reps. Matt MacPherson and Anthony Loubet each had about half as many votes as their respective Democratic challengers, Michael Finch and Liz Oates.

• Just over half the 2024 vote totals had been counted.

House District 42: Freshman state Rep. Clint Okerlund (R-Sandy) was 1,600 votes behind Democratic challenger Iva Williams to represent parts of Sandy, Draper and Cottonwood Heights.

• About 14,000 votes were counted — just over half the number who voted in 2024.

🗳️ Voters rejected Amendment B, per AP. It would've required proposed constitutional amendments that raise taxes to receive at least 60% voter approval to pass, rather than a simple majority. (KSL)

⚖️ Preliminary results showed State Supreme Court Justice Jill Pohlman would likely keep her seat despite a GOP-led campaign to unseat her in yesterday's retention election. (Utah News Dispatch)

🔍 State Senate Democrats called on their colleague Sen. Kathleen Riebe (D-Cottonwood Heights) to resign following an investigation into allegations of workplace discrimination. (ABC 4)

• Riebe hadn't responded to multiple news outlets' requests for comment as of last night.

🚫 The Downtown Alliance and the city have called off plans for a Pioneer Park building that would house year-round farmers markets. (KSL)

Election Night pizza is a newsroom tradition, and this time, we went with Bricks Corner in Sugar House for their Detroit-style pies.

💭 Kim's thought bubble: Erin's disdain for bacon didn't stop me from ordering "the Randazzo" with crispy bacon crumbles on top.

💭 Erin's thought bubble: I grew up in sniffing range of a hog refinery.

• Sausage > bacon!

🌹 Erin is dreading the rose-pinning chore she blew off last spring.

🥤 Kim ended her evening yesterday with a crisp Coca-Cola from McDonald's — what she calls her "Election Night cig."

This newsletter was edited by Jodie Lau.