Democrats on track to regain control of Salt Lake County Council; bond set to pass

SALT LAKE CITY — Democrats could flip the Salt Lake County Council, while a proposed $128 million bond for recreational facilities across the state's most populous county is on track to pass, according to preliminary election results.

Republicans currently hold a 5-4 advantage in the County Council, but Utah Democrats claimed victory in the At-Large A race, flipping one seat.

If the current election numbers hold, following another election results update early Wednesday, the party would hold a 6-3 advantage beginning next year.

• At-Large A: Democrat Zach Robinson leads Republican Kathleen Anderson, 65% to 33% (262,183 ballots counted). Republican Laurie Stringham currently holds the seat, but lost to Anderson at the Republican nominating convention.
• District 1: Democrat Jiro Johnson leads Libertarian Casey Poe, 86% to 14% (36,588 ballots counted). Johnson is seeking reelection.
• District 3: Democrat Luke Maynes leads Republican Mike Bird, 60% to 40% (37,789 ballots counted). Republican Aimee Winder Newton currently holds the seat, but chose not to seek reelection.
• District 5: Republican Traci Crockett leads Democrat Sara Cimmers, 52% to 48% (39,187 ballots counted). Republican Sheldon Stewart currently holds the seat, but chose not to seek reelection.

Robinson called the results a "win for all of us," in a statement Tuesday night. Most other candidates have remained mum on the preliminary results.

The nine-member council was set for changes regardless of the election because two Republican members chose not to seek reelection and a third was unseated during the party's nominating convention earlier this year.

Jenny Wilson, a Democrat, was reelected as the mayor of Salt Lake County in 2024. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, Sheriff Rosie Rivera and Clerk Lannie Chapman, all Democrats, are on track to remain in their positions.

Ali Cloward, a Democrat, also holds a 63% to 37% lead over County Auditor Chris Harding, a Republican.

Chapman told KSL she knows there are thousands of ballots left to count, but she was unsure exactly how many more are left to count.

Election results aren't final until the county certifies the election results later this month.

Recreation bond on pace to pass

Meanwhile, a $128 million bond on residents' ballots is on track to pass.

Votes for the issuance of the bond hold a 61% to 39% lead over votes against it, based on a count of over 243,000 votes.

County leaders agreed to put the 10-year bond on the ballot in August, seeking to fund new recreation facilities or improvements to existing centers and parks across the county.

The measure will not increase property taxes on residents if approved, as it would essentially replace an expiring bond that voters approved a decade ago, county officials explained at the time.

A list of proposed projects the bond supports can be found on the county's website.

Click here for more U.S. and Utah election results.

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