Utah lawmakers elect leaders after GOP loses supermajority

Utah lawmakers chose new legislative leaders after Democrats made historic gains in the election, ending Republicans’ decades-long two-thirds supermajority in the House and costing the party roughly 16 seats. Republicans selected Sen. Evan Vickers of Cedar City as Senate president after former Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore lost to Democrat Shana Anderson; Mike Schultz was reelected House speaker. Vickers and Schultz said the results showed voters had concerns and that Republican lawmakers need to rebuild trust and engage more with the public. Democrats reelected Sen. Luz Escamilla as Senate minority leader, with Karen Kwan, Jen Plumb and Silvia Catten taking other caucus leadership roles. The Democratic caucus selections came amid allegations of discriminatory conduct against Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who was not reelected as caucus manager and has denied many of the allegations.