Sotelo, Belmont lead in Utah House races

Utah's legislative elections have historically favored the two major parties, but current vote counts in two House races suggest a shift. As of Wednesday afternoon, two unaffiliated candidates hold the lead in their respective districts.

Patrick Belmont leads incumbent Rep. Jason Thompson, a Republican from River Heights, by more than 1,300 votes in Cache County. Belmont is a professor at Utah State University who describes himself as a water scientist and energy expert. He ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2024.

Sergio Sotelo holds a lead of nearly 1,100 votes in an open West Jordan seat previously held by Rep. Cheryl Acton. Sotelo is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union. His Republican opponent, Chris McConnehey, conceded the race after falling behind.

McConnehey said he called Sotelo to offer congratulations and expressed support for the process. "I think he's going to do a wonderful job," McConnehey said. Sotelo stated his motivation came from disillusionment with labor organizing in the state. He noted that union members register as Republicans, Democrats, and independents, often voting based on economic interests rather than party lines.

Belmont attributes his success to voter dissatisfaction with Republican leadership and a desire for independent voices. "I really believe that our problems are not Democratic problems or Republican problems," Belmont said. He added that candidates need to move away from party politics to relate to constituents in healthier ways.

If both candidates maintain their leads, they would become the first independent candidates to win a general election for the Utah House in modern history. It would also mark the first time two unaffiliated candidates won in the same year. The current legislature has one third-party member, Sen. Emily Buss of the Forward Party, but she was appointed to a vacancy and has not yet won a general election.

Historical records for Utah lawmakers show gaps in party affiliation data. B. Spencer Young served one term as a representative in 1933. Records conflict on his affiliation, with some listing him as a Democrat and others as a Forward representative. He was involved in efforts to repeal Prohibition-era liquor laws. Brigham Young University political science professor Adam Brown stated that no legislator has lacked a party affiliation since at least 1934, though exact data remains difficult to verify.