People vote at the Main Library in Salt Lake City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
The Associated Press called Utah for former President Donald Trump and projected John Curtis to win Mitt Romney’s seat in the U.S. Senate shortly after polls closed Tuesday at 8 p.m.
That’s even though election night results had not yet been posted thanks to long lines at vote centers — some with waits over an hour.
“Gonna be a long night, folks,” Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson posted on X at 7:30 p.m. In a series of tweets, the state’s top election official said her office had received reports of up to two-hour waits in several counties. Her office expected at least an hour delay on posting of election night results. As of 8:30 p.m., Henderson said it’s “looking like” results will be posted closer to 10 p.m.
“I know everyone wants results, including me!” Henderson posted. “Thanks for your patience, Utah!”
Curtis, a Republican, declared victory and Democrat Caroline Gleich conceded in prepared statements issued shortly after the AP called the race.
“This journey has been about getting things done and ensuring that Utah values are represented in our nation’s Capital,” Curtis said in a post on X. “Your support shows we can address the major challenges ahead: managing public lands, holding China accountable, advancing our energy dominance, and always standing up for the principles that make Utah strong.”
Thank you, Utah. This journey has been about getting things done and ensuring that Utah values are represented in our nation’s Capital. Your support shows we can address the major challenges ahead: managing public lands, holding China accountable, advancing our energy dominance,… https://t.co/X8Unt0aRMO
— John Curtis (@CurtisUT) November 6, 2024
Gleich said she was “incredibly proud” of her campaign. “While the result was not what we had hoped, we focused on critical issues: climate action, public lands and reproductive freedom,” she said, while also crediting her supporters with engaging young voters and people from a variety of backgrounds.
“Most of all, we made the Republican candidate fight for a state which his party normally takes for granted,” Gleich said, while also congratulating Curtis and challenging him to keep his promise to “take action” on the climate.
Heading into Election Day, Henderson warned long lines could potentially delay the state’s results, saying “county clerks have been instructed not to publish results until every Utahn waiting in line when the polls close has had a chance to vote.” She also asked for patience.
Election Day is here: Lt. Gov. warns long lines could delay Utah’s election night results
Social media reports indicated Utah County — a conservative stronghold where the Republican clerk, Aaron Davidson, had discouraged voting by mail and encouraged in person on election day — had long lines of voters waiting more than an hour to cast their votes.
Davidson did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday night, but KSL.com reported printer issues led the clerk to print thousands of emergency ballots at multiple polling locations, including in the cities of Highland, Pleasant Grove, Payson and Orem.
At the Utah County Health and Justice Building, just blocks from Curtis’ election watch party, prospective voters braved the freezing weather as two lines snaked out of the building when the polls closed. Everyone already in line at 8 p.m. will still have an opportunity to cast a ballot, so long as they are willing to wait.
Inside the building, voters packed in as the line slowly progressed toward voting booths and poll workers tried diligently to speed up the process. Those at the front of the line reported they had been waiting upwards to two and a half hours to get there. Pizzas were being delivered to the building as voters prepared to continue waiting, potentially for an hour or two more.
Nathan Beitler contributed to this report.