This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Democrats appeared on track to gain perhaps three seats in the Utah Legislature on election night, pecking away at Republican supermajorities.

They led in four House races where they could pick up Democratic seats in final election night counts, and were close in a couple others.

But Republicans were leading in one race to pick up a Democratic seat. The GOP now enjoys a 63-12 margin in the House, the second-largest majority in the past 80 years

Democrats were not leading any Senate races where they could pick up seats. Republicans hold a 23-5 majority in the Senate, with one seat held by Libertarian Sen. Mark Madsen of Saratoga Springs. He recently switched from the Republican Party but is retiring. Republicans won back Madsen's seat as current Rep. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, ran unopposed for it.

Races where Democrats led on election night included:

• In House District 31, Elizabeth Weight led freshman Rep. Sophia DiCaro, R-West Valley City, led 53 percent to 47 percent, up 270 votes. Two years ago, DiCaro won that seat by a slim 195 votes ­— after Democrats initially thought on election night that they had won it. That changed after absentee ballots were counted.

• In House District 32, Democrat Suzanne Harrison led Rep. Lavar Christensen, R-Draper, 51 percent to 49 percent, up by 195 votes. Harrison is the head of the anesthesiology department at Riverton Hospital, and raised more money than Christensen.

• In an open-seat race in House District 34, Democrat Karen Kwan led Republican Macade Jensen by a wide 57-43 percent margin. The seat had been held by retiring Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville.

• In a rematch of the race two years ago in House District 44, Democrat Christine Passey led Rep. Bruce Cutler 51 percent to 49 percent, up 226 votes. Cutler prevailed by 53 votes two years ago, after trailing on election night then. Again, absentee votes gave him the win then.

Republicans were leading in one race to take over a Democratic seat. Republican Christine Watkins led Rep. Brad King, D-Price, 51 percent to 49 percent, up 369 votes. Watkins is a former Democrat who previously held the seat.

A few other races were somewhat close and gave Democrats the potential to pick up seats when more by-mail votes are counted. They included:

• In House District 33, Rep. Craig Hall, R-West Valley City, led Democrat Peter Tomala 52 percent to 48 percent, up 163 votes.

• In the open-seat race for House District 54, Republican Tim Quinn led Democrat Rudi Kohler 53 percent to 47 percent.. The seat had been held by retiring Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City.

• In House District 45, Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, led Democrat Nikki Cunard 53 percent to 47 percent.

• Republican Logan Wilde led Democrat Cole Capener by a 54-46 margin in House District 53. It had been represented by Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, whom Wilde defeated in the GOP primary.

Counts are complicated by the fact that 21 of 29 counties voted by mail this year, and many ballots still may yet to be delivered or compiled. Counts will be updated every few days, until final county vote canvasses occur in two weeks. In multi-county districts, the final canvass is Nov. 22.

Democrats appeared to be helped by heavy Democratic turnout, and by depressed GOP voting amid frustration by many Republicans over party nominee Donald Trump.

The GOP margins before the election were at near-record levels. The GOP majority in the House was the second highest in the past 80 years, and the Senate majority was the largest in that time.

Ninety legislative seats were up for grabs this year — but candidates in 27 races were unopposed, more than a quarter of the total.

Unopposed Senate winners include: Sens. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, and Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, plus Anderegg who moves up from being a House member.

Unopposed House incumbent Democrats included Reps. Patrice Arent of Millcreek and Joel Briscoe, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Brian King and Angela Romero, all from Salt Lake City.

House Republican incumbents who were unopposed are Reps. Walt Brooks of St. George; Kay Christofferson, Lehi; Kim Coleman, West Jordan; Francis Gibson, Mapleton; Brian Greene, Pleasant Grove; Keith Grover, Provo; Timothy Hawkes, Centerville; Mike Kennedy, Alpine; and Mike McKell, Spanish Fork.

Also, Reps. Derrin Owens, Fountain Green; Edward Redd, North Logan; Marc Roberts, Salem; Mike Shultz, Hooper; Lowry Snow, Santa Clara; Jon Stanard, St. George; Norm Thurston, Provo; and John Westwood, Cedar City; and newcomers Jefferson Moss of Saratoga Springs and Val Potter of North Logan.