Thank you to all who helped our candidates during this election campaign.  I know many people made phone calls, distributed fliers, called potential donors, organized volunteers, held house parties, etc.  We made a major effort.  Thanks so much to all who contributed their time, money, and energy to the cause of creating a two party system once again in Utah County.

This was a tough year.  The Republicans were out in force throughout the nation, and in Utah.  Several Utah Democratic legislators lost their seats.  The Republicans were energized.  Frankly, we need to be more energized, too.  There is nothing inevitable about elections.  The key is to get more of your supporters out than the other person's.  We fell short.  

I was heartened by the fact that we came very close in HD 63.  A mere 145 votes would have tipped the balance and elected Don Jarvis to the state legislature.  145 votes!

In an important sense, we are continuing to create a two party system in Utah County.  We fielded candidates across the board, even in a highly Republican year.  These were viable candidates.  We raised more money than we had the previous election cycle.  And we came closer in one race than we have for many years.

Moreover, many people in this county have now voted for a Democrat twice.  We're talking about thousands of voters who voted for Don Jarvis, Steve Baugh, and Deon Turley in 2008 and again in 2010.  Nor are these Democrats.  Registered Democrats are a small proportion of their respective districts (less than 10 percent).  Yet, twice they collectively captured the votes of about 6,000 voters, the vast majority of whom are not Democrats.  Many of my Republican neighbors were working hard for, and cheering on, Steve Baugh.  In my own precinct, support for Steve rose this year over his 2008 totals. That was despite the heavy campaign by some of my own Republican neighbors to slander Steve.  Many Republicans refused to accept such slanders and once again clicked Steve Baugh, the Democratic candidate.  And others in other districts did the same for Deon and Don. This voting pattern might become a habit for these people!  

However, clearly a real two party system requires a rotation in office.  Both Republicans and Democrats need to be competitive enough to win.  We're not there yet.  

Again, thanks to you who worked so hard to make a difference.  On the measure of winning one or more seats, we failed.  On other measures of holding our own in a terrible year for us, getting our message out once again, holding most of the voters who voted for our candidates in HD 63, 61, and 58 in 2008 (in a strong Republican year), and becoming better organized for the future, we made significant progress.

In politics, you win some and you lose some.  We haven't won yet, but it will come, but only if Democrats in Utah County keep at it and don't become frustrated because of setbacks in bad years.  We've come a long way.  Progress doesn't come from looking back;  it happens by looking forward.