Latest posts tagged with #UtPol on Bluesky
Beyond the new Salt Lake County-centric CD1? DNC Chair Ken Martin tells me he's eyeballing CD2, where Congressman Blake Moore filed to run for re-election in (but maybe not necessarily this election cycle): www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
Armed with a fresh, court-approved congressional map, the Democratic National Committee is looking to make reliably red-state Utah a little more “purple” and flip the balance of power in the U.S. House: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
The stage is set for Utah's 2026 midterm elections. The state's Utah's new court-ordered congressional districts have drawn a crowded field — with 41 candidates filing to run. #utpol
NEW: With a new, court-ordered congressional map and a competitive district, the Democratic National Committee is looking to turn red-state Utah a little more "purple." DNC Chair Ken Martin spoke to me about their plans: www.fox13now.com/news/politic... #utpol #Utah
Defendant Deidre M. Henderson, in her official capacity as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Utah, respectfully moves this Court to dismiss Plaintiff United States’s Complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); DUCivR 7-1(a). The basis for this motion is that Plaintiff has not alleged facts stating a claim for relief under Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960. INTRODUCTION Federalism and the separation of powers are the central features of our constitutional order. The Framers envisioned a robust system of dual sovereignty in which the States maintained a strong independent role—including in running elections. For that reason, “the Constitution grants to the States a broad power to prescribe the ‘Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives.’” Tashjian v. Republican Party of Connecticut, 479 U.S. 208, 217 (1986) (quoting U.S. Const. art. I, § 4, cl. 1). The Constitution also allows Congress a role in the electoral process—specifically, that of “establishing uniform rules for federal elections, binding on the States,” where necessary. Foster v. Love, 522 U.S. 67, 69 (1997). But on a fundamental level, it is the States that wield the “constitutional power to prescribe rules regulating federal elections.” Moore v. Harper, 600 U.S. 1, 27 (2023); see also Foster, 522 U.S. at 69. Plaintiff now aims to upset that balance. In this litigation—as in 29 similar lawsuits against other States and the District of Columbia, none of which have yet been successful—the executive branch of the federal government claims the power
![to compel the State of Utah (“the State” or “Utah”) to hand over sensitive personal
information belonging to millions of Utah voters. For support, it cites the Civil
Rights Act of 1960 (CRA)—a 66-year-old statute under which it has “never
previously claimed powers of this magnitude” before. Biden v. Nebraska, 600 U.S.
477, 501 (2023). Plaintiff reads this statute to confer a “sweeping power to obtain”
state voting records, requiring States to ignore their own voter privacy laws in the
process. Dkt. 1 (“Compl.”) ¶ 2.
Plaintiff is mistaken. The CRA does not require Utah to hand over its own
internal voting rolls, which the State created for its own purposes, and which are
not “records” that have “come into [its] possession” as the statute specifies. 52
U.S.C. § 20701. The CRA does not prohibit Utah from redacting sensitive voter
information, as required by State law. And it does not authorize the federal
government to sidestep Congress’s unambiguous requirement that the federal
government provide a valid statement of “the basis and the purpose” for its votingrecord request. 52 U.S.C. § 20703](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z2xtt2ioj5nt6ciwxkzlciin/bafkreicbfexwazxpgd57zyfnulraklbdyd3w2nitn6qr6z5osv3ybsoqki)
to compel the State of Utah (“the State” or “Utah”) to hand over sensitive personal information belonging to millions of Utah voters. For support, it cites the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA)—a 66-year-old statute under which it has “never previously claimed powers of this magnitude” before. Biden v. Nebraska, 600 U.S. 477, 501 (2023). Plaintiff reads this statute to confer a “sweeping power to obtain” state voting records, requiring States to ignore their own voter privacy laws in the process. Dkt. 1 (“Compl.”) ¶ 2. Plaintiff is mistaken. The CRA does not require Utah to hand over its own internal voting rolls, which the State created for its own purposes, and which are not “records” that have “come into [its] possession” as the statute specifies. 52 U.S.C. § 20701. The CRA does not prohibit Utah from redacting sensitive voter information, as required by State law. And it does not authorize the federal government to sidestep Congress’s unambiguous requirement that the federal government provide a valid statement of “the basis and the purpose” for its votingrecord request. 52 U.S.C. § 20703
NEW: Lt. Governor Henderson (through her lawyers) have asked a federal judge to throw out the DOJ's lawsuit seeking Utah voter records. Essentially, argument is federalism and DOJ is not entitled to them nor can they require states to ignore their own voter privacy laws. #utpol #Utah
As soon as the law was passed, the Utah Attorney General's Office had lawsuits over abortion rights, the Great Salt Lake, climate change and redistricting moved to a special 3-judge panel to hear.
It's like "legal inception," with new challenges the panel is unconstitutional. #utpol #Utah
This matter is before the Court on a petition for extraordinary relief and a rule 23C motion for expedited consideration, filed on February 26, 2026. The rule 23C motion for expedited consideration is denied. Pursuant to Rule 19(g) of the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Court requests that the Respondents file a response to the petition within fourteen (14) days from the date of this order. Any reply is due within seven (7) days after service of the response.
Catching up on this, but the Utah Supreme Court REJECTS Planned Parenthood's requests for expedited hearings in their challenge of the legislature's new "Constitutional Court" panel of judges. They're going to move at a regular pace. The order... #utpol #Utah
Wikipedia Edit History entry for Trevor Lee (politician) Deprod: state legislators are presumed notable barring good evidence otherwise.
Trevor Lee (politician)
Edited on Monday, Mar 16, 2026 at 11:34 MDT
#TrevorLee #Utah #UtLeg #UtPol #Wikipedia
Gov. Cox signs 7 bills in the 2026 General Legislative Session SALT LAKE CITY (March 13, 2026) – Today, Gov. Cox signed 7 bills in the 2026 General Legislative Session. Information on these bills can be found below: ● ● ● ● ● ● H.B. 17 Public Infrastructure District Meeting Amendments H.B. 45 Fire Code Amendments H.B. 46 Taxpayer Information Sharing Amendments H.B. 62 Road Jurisdiction Amendments H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments H.B. 366 Judicial Modifications ● H.B. 597 Alcohol Amendments
Catching up on emails while I was out and Gov. Cox signed the omnibus alcohol bill and the "constitutional court" bill, among others. #utpol #Utah
SALT LAKE COUNTY 2001 So. State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 (385) 468-7500 TTY 711 Municipal Building Authority Meeting Agenda Tuesday, March 17, 2026 6:00 PM Council Chambers, Room N1-110 Meetings may be closed for reasons allowed by statute. Motions relating to any of the items listed below, including final action, may be taken. This meeting will be simulcast via Webex so the public and members of the Board may participate electronically. The link to access the Cisco Webex is listed below: https://slco.webex.com/weblink/register/rf43b0910db93346046435f0cf4d08288 The Board will also broadcast live-streams of its meetings on Facebook Live, which may be accessed at http://www.facebook.com/slcocouncil/. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PUBLIC COMMENT 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.1 Approval of February 24, 2026, Municipal Building Authority Minutes 3.2 Approval of March 3, 2026, Municipal Building Authority Minutes 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS 4.1 Hold a Public Hearing to Receive Input From the Public with Respect to the Issuance of not to Exceed $65,000,000 of Lease Revenue Bonds and the Potential Economic Impact the Financed Project Will Have on the Private Sector 4.2 Hold a Public Hearing to Provide Members of the Public an Opportunity to Present Testimony on the Proposed Issuance of not to Exceed $65,000,000 of Lease Revenue Bonds ADJOURN
NEW: Salt Lake County will hold a public hearing on Tuesday for a $65 million bond to cover library improvements/upgrades. Here's the public notice... #utpol #Utah
Wikipedia Edit History entry for Trevor Lee (politician) non notable biography
Trevor Lee (politician)
Edited on Monday, Mar 16, 2026 at 10:10 MDT
#TrevorLee #Utah #UtLeg #UtPol #Wikipedia
Screenshot of an article in today’s Salt Lake Tribune. Titled, “Here’s who sold the Salt Lake City warehouse to ICE, and how we traced its ownership”. Subtitle: “ICE purchased the 24.9-acre industrial property for $145.4 million Wednesday”. Authors Jose Davila IV and Tony Semerad, SLT. Photo of purchased warehouse is inset. Courtesy of Chris Samuels, SLT. Article describes layers of bank, REIT, LLCs entities that sold/own warehouse that will hold future ICE detainees.
Screenshot of an article in today’s Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com
Weird layers of corporate and private entities which sold/own this recently ICE-purchased warehouse in SLC.
#utpol
Article courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com
Lest the signs promote “beauty, abundance, grandeur”, potus may have them removed because they tell the truth.
🤦🏽♀️🙄🤷🏽♀️
#utpol
How the Trump admin may erase history, science at Utah’s national parks
edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Screenshot of an article in today’s Salt Lake Tribune. Titled, “Before buying SLC warehouse for new detention center, ICE awarded a $10.4M contract to transport people there.” Author Samantha Moilanen, SLT. Article describes how GEO Transport Inc. through ICE, was awarded a contract on January 9.
Article courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com
Quietly, a done deal.
Transportation of detainees by a subsidiary of GEO Group (private contractor for detention centers).
A purchase from a private LLC in Chicago of a SLC warehouse.
To house humans.
Dotting I’s. Crossing T’s.
#utpol
Wikipedia Edit History entry for Nate Blouin Winning candidate
Nate Blouin
Edited on Monday, Mar 16, 2026 at 6:29 MDT
#NateBlouin #Utah #UtLeg #UtPol #Wikipedia
I have to hand it to our Content Creator Senator Mike Lee. He doesn't pass many bills, but when he's fully committed, he's not above telling the truth if lying alone isn't helping to get his bill to the president's desk. #utpol #SaveAct
You'll, at the very least, be able to look your grandchildren in their questioning eyes and say you chose the right when a choice was placed before you.
#utpol
I’m sharing Senator John Curtis’ weekly newsletter from my inbox.
Note the irony of the senator’s bicameral fiscal restraint bill.
I’ll point out that the good Utah senator voted FOR the deficit exploding OBBB.
Read on, Utahns.
#utpol
outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/v...
Political cartoon in today’s Salt Lake Tribune. Cartoonist is Pat Bagley. Titled, “Do you speak woke?” A single panel with six different scenes, depicting Bagley’s view of what Utah politicians tout as voter fraud here. As the cartoon drawings progress: A reporter seeks evidence that 300 dead people voted. A politician taps his phone for said evidence. He disappears. In his place, Jefferson Burton (R-UT, Salem) appears. In the real legislative session, he proposed new legislation which would curtail mail-in voting. The last panel, if I’m correctly interpreting, has two politicians seeing his legislation as a scapegoat. What actually passed was a “study” to be conducted on vote by mail.
Political cartoon courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com and cartoonist Pat Bagley @bagleycartoons.bsky.social
Killing citizen power.
Drawing “fair” maps.
Suing over court ordered maps.
Deciding which party runs, where.
And now a “study” on VBM.
If your voice didn’t matter….
#utpol
Imagine if Temple Square had been blocks from Auschwitz.
Exactly how "Latter Days" do the Saints believe we are, that their association with atrocity is of no importance?
#utpol
Wikipedia Edit History entry for Utah Independent American Party
Utah Independent American Party
Edited on Saturday, Mar 14, 2026 at 3:54 MDT
#Utah #UtLeg #UtPol #Wikipedia
Mikey Lee is not fair and honest in his business dealing with his fellow countrymen.
#utpol
Just in: Gov. Cox just signed 7 more bills, including this year's alcohol bill. Some new elements are now law, including a repeal of the law requiring restaurants to check every ID for alcohol purchases #utpol
Friends, I’m hearing conspiracy stories that the DHS/ICE detention center is part of a deal in exchange for federal $$ to save the Great Salt Lake. I promise you, that’s not true. We Republicans are more than happy to host a concentration camp in SLC regardless. #utpol
As word spreads of plans for an immigration detention facility on the west side of Salt Lake City, many seem to be scrambling to get more details www.ksl.com/article/5146... #utpol
Paid $145 million in cash
A private LLC
Who’s the owner of the LLC?
83,000 square feet
Oh ,but jobs: to hold human beings inside?🤦🏽♀️
#utpol
Heads up, #Utahns and #SaltLakers
We have a concentration camp purchased in Salt Lake close to the #Airport for #ICE and #CBP to warehouse our fellow humans in crowded, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions.
You can't pretend you don't know what is happening in these places. We know. If we allow […]
