Legislative Alert: House Democratic and Senate Republican Leadership Elections
Senate Republicans held their leadership votes on Tuesday, November 10th. As expected, Senator Jeff Timberlake was elected as Republican Leader. Both Senator Matt Pouliot and Senator Trey Stewart ran to be the Republican Assistant Leader. Senator Pouliot prevailed. Both Pouliot and Timberlake are starting their second term in the Senate.
Today, Thursday, November 12, the House Democrats made their choice for Speaker of the House. As expected, current Assistant Majority Leader, Ryan Fecteau, will be the Democratic candidate for Speaker on Wednesday, December 2nd, on swearing in day. Rep. Seth Berry also ran for Speaker. The House Majority race was between Rep. Michelle Dunphy and Rep. Denise Tepler. Rep. Dunphy was elected Majority Leader. The Assistant Majority Leader race was between Rep. Michele Meyer, Rep. Lori Gramlich, and Rep. Rachel Talbot-Ross. Rep. Talbot-Ross prevailed. Fecteau and Dunphy are starting their 4th term, and Talbot-Ross is starting her third term.
The Senate and House Democrats will have a joint caucus in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 1st to pick their candidates for Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. As we reported before, we expect no challenge within the Democratic party to either AG Frey or Treasurer Beck. The only candidate known at this time for State Auditor is Matt Dunlap. However, in the race for Secretary of State we have Senator Justin Chenette, Senator Shenna Bellows, House Majority Leader Matt Moonen, Rep. Erik Jorgensen, Rep. Janice Cooper, and Rep. Craig Hickman. The latter four are termed out of office, Chenette did not run for re-election, and Bellows was just re-elected to her 3rd term. If she were to win there will be a Special Election in her Senate District.
Please do not hesitate to contact with us any questions.