Utah lawmakers choose new leadership after election shakeup

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

On Nov. 6, Utah lawmakers chose new leaders for the 67th Legislature. Senate Republicans picked Evan Vickers as Senate president after the previous president lost his primary and the presumed successor lost his general election.

House Republicans kept Mike Schultz as speaker, but they did so after losing their two-thirds supermajority. The leadership votes set the agenda for a session where Republicans still control both chambers with a narrower House margin.

Why it matters

Utah's new leaders will set the agenda for a session where House Republicans no longer hold a two-thirds supermajority.

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Key Indicators

House seats Republicans lost

Approximate loss cited in current election results by KSL.

Lost

House Republican two-thirds supermajority

Republicans surrendered the threshold after losing about 16 seats.

Legislature seated by leadership votes

Caucuses chose leaders for the 67th Legislature on Nov. 6, 2026.

Nov. 16, 2026

House Democratic leadership vote

Expected date for House Democrats to choose their team.

Jan. 19, 2027

2027 General Session start

The new leadership will preside when the session opens.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Evan Vickers

Utah Senate president, R-Cedar City

Selected Senate president on Nov. 6, 2026

Mike Schultz

Speaker of the Utah House, R-Hooper

Reelected by House Republican Caucus on Nov. 6, 2026

Kirk Cullimore

Outgoing Utah Senate majority leader, R-Sandy

Lost reelection to Democrat Shana Anderson on Nov. 3, 2026

Luz Escamilla

Utah Senate minority leader, D-West Valley City

Remains Senate minority leader after Nov. 6, 2026 caucus vote

Kathleen Riebe

Utah state senator, D-Cottonwood Heights

Replaced as Senate Democratic caucus manager; under Senate investigation

Casey Snider

Utah House majority leader, R-Paradise

Elected House majority leader on Nov. 6, 2026

Shana Anderson

Utah senator-elect, Democrat

Defeated Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore on Nov. 3, 2026

Silvia Catten

Utah senator-elect, D-Salt Lake City

Selected Senate Democratic caucus manager on Nov. 6, 2026

Organizations Involved

Utah Senate Republican Caucus

Legislative caucus

Chose Evan Vickers as Senate president and a new leadership team

The Senate Republican caucus holds the majority and selects the Senate president.

Utah House Republican Caucus

Legislative caucus

Kept Mike Schultz as speaker after losing supermajority

The House Republican caucus selects the speaker and majority leadership.

Utah Senate Democratic Caucus

Legislative caucus

Kept Luz Escamilla as minority leader; replaced caucus manager

The Senate Democratic caucus selects its minority leadership team.

Utah Legislature

State legislature

Organizing for the 67th Legislature

The Utah Legislature is the state's part-time lawmaking body.

Timeline

2026 November 2026

3 events Latest: Yesterday

November 2026
Caucuses choose new leadership for 67th Legislature
Latest Leadership

Evan Vickers becomes Senate president; Mike Schultz remains House speaker; Silvia Catten replaces Kathleen Riebe.
Yesterday
Cullimore upset; House GOP loses supermajority
Election

Kirk Cullimore loses to Shana Anderson; House Republicans lose about 16 seats.
4 days ago
2026
Adams loses Republican primary
Election

Senate President J. Stuart Adams loses his primary, opening a leadership race.
2026

Scenarios

Vickers remains Senate president through the 2027 session

Likely Resolves by Mar 12, 2027

Discussed by: KSL and FOX 13 reporting on the caucus vote

Vickers won the Senate Republican caucus vote and faces no announced challenge. If he keeps the post, he will preside over the 2027 General Session and set the Senate agenda.

Senate Democrats formally remove Riebe from caucus

Possible Resolves by Jan 19, 2027

Discussed by: FOX 13 and KSL reporting on the Senate investigation

Senate Democrats had sought to expel Kathleen Riebe and called for her resignation after a Senate investigation into workplace conduct. They replaced her as caucus manager on Nov. 6. A formal removal from the caucus would complete that break.

Medical cannabis bill advances under Vickers

Possible Resolves by Mar 12, 2027

Discussed by: Utah Patients Coalition comments to FOX 13

Vickers has overseen medical cannabis legislation with Luz Escamilla and is a pharmacist. His new role could give the issue more priority, but passage still requires both chambers and the governor.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 2018

2018 midterm elections

Democrats won control of the U.S. House and made gains in state legislatures. The wave election forced both parties to rethink leadership and messaging.

Then

Democrats elected Nancy Pelosi as speaker; Republicans adjusted state-level strategies.

Now

The election showed how midterm waves can change governing agendas even when the presidency stays in the same party.

Why this matters now

Utah's 2026 election produced a smaller Republican majority, prompting caucus leadership changes similar to how wave elections force parties to respond.

November 2010

2010 state legislative wave

Republicans won a record number of state legislative seats and flipped chambers across the country. New majorities took control ahead of redistricting.

Then

Republican leaders set agendas in many states and shaped congressional maps.

Now

The wave demonstrated how state legislative supermajorities can be won and lost in a single election.

Why this matters now

Utah House Republicans lost their two-thirds supermajority in 2026, a reminder that supermajorities are not permanent.