SALT LAKE CITY — Several Democratic incumbents running for re-election to the Legislature were waging tough battles to retain their seats Tuesday night, with some trailing in challenges posted by feisty opponents.
Rep. Trisha Beck, D-Sandy, for example, was lagging behind Republican LaVar Christensen to keep hold of her post.
Less than a hundred votes separated them, with 13 of 30 precincts reporting at 11 p.m.
Another tight battle pitted Rep. Laura Black, D-Sandy, in a fight to hang on to her seat to challenger Steve Eliason, a Republican.
The NBA star appeal of Shaun Bradley was helping him mount a stiff competition with Democrat Tim Cosgrove, who represents Murray. In that contest, as well, only a few hundred votes separated the pair, with 8 of 29 precincts reporting.
Bradley, described as an up-and-comer in the Republican Party, played basketball for Brigham Young University before going on to a professional career with the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Cosgrove has been a moderate voice advocating on behalf of child welfare and safety issues.
Another longtime Democrat, Rep. Jim Gowans of Tooele County was struggling to keep up with Republican contender Douglas Sager. With more than half of the precincts reporting at 11 p.m., Gowans trailed by more than 500 votes.
House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said such pivotal victories could help return the political body to an even "stronger Republican base" that it had enjoyed in 2008.
Political pundits attributed some of the troubles for the Democratic Party in part to the growing national unrest hitched to the wagon of the Obama administration. The shift, too, is partially due to demographic changes in some of the districts, which are tending to be more GOP-oriented as younger families move in.
In the Senate, races there were also proving difficult for some Democratic incumbents.
Sen. Gene Davis, a popular West Valley Democrat who has served 24 years in the Senate, was holding on to a slim go-head margin to challenger Lee Brinton, a Republican.
With less than half of the precincts reporting, Davis had 5,390 votes to Brinton's 4,755.
Another long-timer, Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley City, was eking out only a narrow victory against Daniel Thatcher. He led by less than 200 votes at press time.
email: amyjoi@desnews.com