⏰ Tick Tock

Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 12
Days to the start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026) - 89
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 376
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,111

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📰 The Lead

Utah Democrats have a branding problem. And calling it a “problem” might be generous.

A recent Noble Predictive Insights poll reveals the party's favorability sits at 26%—meaning nearly two-thirds of Utahns (64%) view Democrats unfavorably. That's not just bad. That's a net -38% rating, the kind of number that’s nuclear waste-level toxic.

Digging into the numbers shows how brutal they are for Democrats. 7% view Democrats very favorably, 19% somewhat favorably. On the other side, 43% very unfavorably, 20% somewhat unfavorably. Translation: for every Utahn who thinks Democrats are doing fine, there are six others who feel the opposite.

The only Utahns who like Democrats are Utah Democrats (80% favorable/17% unfavorable). Even independent voters register a net -28% favorability.

Men dislike Democrats at -45%, women at -31%. Every age group tilts negative. Even young voters between 19-29 have a sour opinion of the Democratic Party, with a net -36%.

Republicans fare better at +19% net favorability (56% favorable, 37% unfavorable), but strip away Republican voters and the picture changes. Democrats loathe the GOP (net -79%), and independents aren't fans either (net -21%).

The narrow path forward for Democrats (at least in the short term) seems to be finding a way to appeal to independent voters who hate both parties.

The survey was conducted Sept. 22-26, 2025 among 621 registered voters in Utah. The margin of error is ±3.93%.

Thursday morning's Utah headlines

  • Utah's Forward Party wagers 60,000 voters can choose better than 150 party insiders. [Utah Political Watch]
  • New congressional map faces court hearing to determine Prop. 4 compliance. [KUTV]
  • Utah SNAP payments will not be issued in November due to shutdown. [Fox 13]
  • Top Salt Lake County salaries questioned as mayor defends 20% property tax increase. [KUTV]
  • As Utah grapples with closing schools, K-12 enrollment sees largest dip in 25 years. [Salt Lake Tribune]
  • Critics say taxpayer dollars for nursing homes should be spent on care, not new buildings. [Fox 13]
  • Deadline for Great Salt Lake water projects extended as shutdown creates new hurdle. [KSL]
  • Utah Supreme Court rejects Colorado River water pipeline project. [Fox 13]
  • Specialty Utah conservation plat raking in the money. [Deseret News]
  • Plan to build a 7-story hotel next to Sugar House Part receives key endorsement. [KSL]
  • Tyler Robinson case is with the state, not the sheriff's office, attorneys argue in new filing. [KSL]