These underdogs of Utah politics snatched control of the County Council on Tuesday, potentially ushering in a more progressive era for a county that overwhelmingly re-elected Democratic Mayor Peter Corroon as well.

The Republicans had a 5-4 council edge. But, in east-side District 4, Democratic neophyte Jani Iwamoto flipped the balance with an exhaustive, and ultimately successful, grass-roots campaign against GOP incumbent Mark Crockett, according to unofficial returns.

Here is a breakdown of the council races:

Countywide council seat:

Democrat Randy Horiuchi's "got game," as his campaign slogan trumpeted, and another term on the County Council.

The longtime county leader beat Republican rival, Steven DeBry, in a race that hinged largely on Horiuchi's experience.

A former two-term commissioner, Horiuchi touted that experience as a reason for voters to return him for a third council term, while DeBry pointed to those years as evidence that it was time for new blood.

Voters bought Horiuchi's argument, giving him 55 percent of the vote.

"I'm more humble and grateful today than any other time in my 16 years in office," Horiuchi said. "I made a pledge to the voters [to] work tirelessly and relentlessly. . . . I'm going to hold myself to that."

District 2:

Republican incumbent and professional firefighter Michael Jensen doused a hotly contested political challenge by Democrat Paul Pugmire.

"I knew it was a steep slope when I started climbing it," Pugmire conceded.

Jensen leaned heavily on his leadership credentials, saying he would give west-siders the loudest voice as a key decision-maker on boards such as the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

"This whole race," Jensen said, "shows that Salt Lake County is clearly the battleground [between Republicans and Democrats]."

District 4:

Iwamoto outpaced Crockett, literally, in east side District 4 with her door-to-door drive in a race that turned negative in the final weeks. "I worked hard," Iwamoto said.

"I, personally, win either way," Crockett remarked, saying that losing the election would mean more time with his family.

District 6:

On the south end, Republican Max Burdick topped Democrat Roger Harding in the District 6 seat vacated by GOP Councilman Marv Hendrickson.

"I'm the new guy," Burdick said, "and I absolutely . . . think of myself as a nonpartisan guy. [I will] try to reach across and make things work."

jstettler@sltrib.com

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* KATIE DRAKE, JENNIFER SANCHEZ AND ROSEMARY WINTERS contributed to this story.