Labor organizer defeats longtime Utah Republican lawmaker

TAYLORSVILLE – One of Utah's longest-serving members of the state Legislature is on his way out after big Republican losses in last week's election.

Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, is among more than a dozen incumbent Republicans who lost their reelection bids, resulting in the loss of a GOP supermajority in the Utah House of Representatives.

Dunnigan, 73, has been a longtime presence at the Capitol. He was first elected to the House in 2002. But he lost his reelection bid in House District 36 to Democrat Blake Townsend, a 32-year-old labor organizer. Townsend received 53.3% of the vote to Dunnigan's 46.7%.

"I think people are ready to roll the dice in a different direction," Townsend told KSL on Friday.

Dunnigan said he enjoyed solving problems and helping people in the Legislature, and he will miss that once he's out of office in January.

"But," he added, "I'm very appreciative and grateful for the years I've had at the state Capitol."

Who is Blake Townsend?

Townsend was just 8 years old when Dunnigan first took office in January 2003. This is the first time Townsend has run for public office.

He said he decided to challenge Dunnigan because of his daughter, who was born a few months ago, and wanting to provide a better future for her.

"On the day that my daughter was born, my wife just looked at me and said, 'Look at her. Let's do this,'" Townsend said. "And so, we decided to run then and there."

Townsend, a Utah State University graduate who lives in West Jordan, has worked as a labor organizer for the Utah Public Employees Association. He recently got a new job with the Utah Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union.

The incoming lawmaker is one of more than a dozen Democrats who flipped Utah House seats from red to blue. As of Friday afternoon, Democrats were on track to capture 14 House seats previously held by Republicans.

"I think we deserve to give Dunnigan his flowers for 24 years of public service, but I think people are ready for change," Townsend said. "They're ready for the next generation. I think they're ready for people who share in the struggles that they're facing."

Townsend said he met many voters who expressed concerns about affordability and the cost of living, which are "the exact same problems me and my family are having."

"I think it's just, simply, people are ready for new ideas," Townsend said. "We've had the same supermajority for 30 years, and people look at the results of what that has gotten, and they feel as if their ability to move forward – to feel more financially secure – has only faded."

Why did Dunnigan lose?

Dunnigan believes his loss is due to one primary factor – widespread dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump.

"I think it was a national tsunami," Dunnigan said.

Tim Chambless, a political science professor at the University of Utah, called Democrats' gains in Utah "very huge," especially in the House, since the GOP will no longer have a veto-proof majority.

"The Republican Party is going to have to work with the Democrats in order to sculpture legislation that is acceptable to a majority of the House of Representatives," Chambless said.

He acknowledged that the Legislature is losing a lot of institutional knowledge, but he said the newcomers bring something, too.

"Energy, commitment, enthusiasm," Chambless said. "I'm hopeful. I'm not afraid of change. Change is good."

But Dunnigan said he believes the exodus of experienced legislators will impact the state.

"I think it will slow us down a bit," he said. "There's still many good legislators there in the House and the Senate, (and) the governor, (to) provide some stability. But there's a big learning curve, and I think it is going to hurt some."

He told KSL he might run for office again in 2028, but he wants to take a few months to let things settle before deciding.

"I feel that I have made an impact and helped a lot of people," Dunnigan said, "and I'm grateful for that opportunity."