In northeast Salt Lake County, the Democratic Party controls six of nine seats in the Utah House of Representatives.
On Nov. 7, the Democrats may have a chance to pick up another seat in District 37, where Rep. Ray Short, R- Holladay, could face a stiff challenge from Democrat Carol Spackman Moss.
But the other two Republican seats appear untouchable, and Democrats can consider Election Day a success if they simply maintain their 6-3 advantage in the area's House districts.
That's because only three of those six Democratic incumbents are running for re-election, and the Republican Party feels it has a legitimate chance to win at least two of those contests.
Heading into election season, the Democrats thought they could challenge Rep. Afton Bradshaw, R-Salt Lake City, in District 28. The district, which includes the extreme southeastern part of the city, is the only Salt Lake district that has consistently elected a Republican — Bradshaw seeks her ninth term.
"That should be our seat," said Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party. "It votes 52 percent Democratic" except in the Bradshaw races.
But Bradshaw's Democratic opponent this year, Kelly Elizabeth Chopus, was kicked off the ballot along with eight others for missing the Sept. 15 deadline for filing campaign finance reports.
Outside of Salt Lake City, Republicans hold 14 of the 24 suburban seats in Salt Lake County. In the northeast, they are particularly hopeful of winning two seats now controlled by Democrats — Districts 31 and 35.
None of the four Senate seats in the northeast part of the county are up for re-election this year.
Here is a rundown of the nine House races in northeast Salt Lake County:
House District 24 (downtown Salt Lake City, the Avenues): Rep. Ralph Becker, the House minority whip, is favored to hold this seat for the Democrats and earn his third term. Two years ago, he won re-election with 67 percent of the vote.
Opposing Becker are Republican Bruce Reading and Libertarian Joyce Jefferson.
House District 25 (upper east-side Salt Lake City, the Avenues, unincorporated Salt Lake County): Scott Daniels will try to hold this seat for the Democrats after the departure of House Minority Leader Dave Jones, who made an unsuccessful run for Salt Lake City mayor.
Daniels is challenged by Republican Allen Nunn and Natural Law Party candidate Lilli DeCair. Two years ago, the Republican candidate in this district received only 28 percent of the vote.
House District 27 (central Salt Lake City): David Litvack, a human-rights activist with the National Conference for Community and Justice, will try to retain this seat for the Democratic Party after defeating incumbent Loretta Baca in a caucus vote at the party's county convention last spring.
The Republican challenger, homemaker and GOP state delegate Kathy Baer, could have an uphill battle in the heavily Democratic district.
House District 28 (southeastern Salt Lake City): Bradshaw, a grandmotherly type who works hard in her district, has been a defender of higher education, especially the University of Utah. University student housing is in her district. With Chopus out of the race, Bradshaw is running unopposed.
House District 30 (south-central Salt Lake City): Democratic Rep. Jackie Biskupski seeks re-election for the first time after winning two years ago with 61 percent of the vote. She is opposed by Republican Keith Homer and Libertarian Richard Madsen.
House District 31 (southeastern Salt Lake City, unincorporated Salt Lake County): Republicans hope to pick up the seat of retiring Democratic Rep. Mary Carlson. The district runs from Westminster Avenue south outside Salt Lake City limits to about 3000 South, above 500 East. Ty McCartney is the Democrat; M. Scott Romney the Republican.
"If we can get it, it's an extra plus for us," Bishop said.
"The district is shifting more Democratic," Taylor said. "I don't think we'll lose it."
House District 35 (Unincorporated Salt Lake County, Murray): "We're getting closer" to beating Rep. Judy Ann Buffmire, the four-term incumbent Democrat, Bishop said.
The district runs from the Jordan River to 1100 East, 3300 South to 4800 South. It's Republican in nature, but Buffmire, a retired psychologist, is a hard campaigner.
"We might get her this year with (GOP nominee) Paul Walker," Bishop said.
"Nope. Judy wins," Taylor predicted.
House District 36 (East-side unincorporated Salt Lake County): Republican Rep. Lamont Tyler seeks his fourth term, running against Democrat Bill Brown and Libertarian Gene Linder. Tyler won with 58 percent of the vote two years ago.
House District 37 (Holladay, unincorporated Salt Lake County): Short seeks his sixth full term, running against Moss. Short won re-election with 54 percent of the vote two years ago, but Moss has campaigned hard, and Taylor says she could pull off the upset.
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