Inside Utah Politics with Lindsay Aerts

We've got what seems to be the first bit of drama of the democratic primary for Utah's newly minted blue-leaning seat. Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez now says she did not endorse former congressman Ben McAdams' bid to return to Washington. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray weigh in on what to make of the confusion and what democrats need to be doing now to prepare for midterm...

The Utah legislature is still weighing its options when it comes to fighting a judge's decision to toss out their congressional map in favor of one proposed by the groups suing them. House Majority Whip Rep. Candice Pierucci joins Lindsay to share the GOP majority's thoughts of an appeal strategy, a special session and even impeaching the judge. Plus, former Utah congressman Ben McAdams is officia...

The legal drama over Utah's congressional maps likely isn't over. Utah GOP leadership tells us they are keeping all options on the table, including different sorts of appeals of impeaching judge Gibson. Panelists Sarah Reale and Rusty Cannon join Lindsay to discuss the fallout from the redistricting decision and where the Republican lawmakers are likely to go from here. Plus, Kathleen Riebe and Be...

A Utah judge has blocked the Utah legislature's map C, ruling it violated the state's anti-gerrymandering law known as Proposition 4. The midnight ruling sent shockwaves through deeply red Utah, as the judge ruled that the plaintiff's map 1, which will, in all likelihood, solidify a Democrat in Congress, is the map that will govern Utah's 2026 midterms. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray brea...

Utah Democrats were denied after they pushed for a special session of the Utah legislature to fund SNAP benefits from Utah's rainy-day fund. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon break down whether that's the government's role. Ben McAdams is reportedly running for Congress, President Trump's tariffs were in front of SCOTUS, and NYC has a new mayor.

Thousands of Utahns are getting ready to go to the polls on Tuesday to vote in hundreds of races across the state. This year, there's a new election law in effect, and you'll need to understand it if you want to make sure your vote counts. Plus, there are dozens of new races on the ballot this year. Lindsay sits down with Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman and Rich Stowell from the sunsetting A...

Utah’s municipal election races are coming to a close as final votes get counted. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan discuss the Sandy mayoral, Riverton mayoral, Ogden Valley, Ogden City, and other races across the state. New York City also saw an historic election, as did Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Salt Lake County has announced a $3 million budget cut by closing four daycares. Panelists Sarah Reale and Erin Rider delve into whether the cuts were a good decision, whether the government should provide daycare, and if not, who should? Former Utah Attorney Sean Reyes is being sued by a former client for malicious prosecution. And, construction has started on the Power District, west of downtown...

As Utah's redistricting case moves on, Utahns don't seem to be paying close attention. That's according to some new polling from the Deseret News. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan discuss why. Speaker of the House Mike Schultz released a video addressing the court case, and where the case stands. Plus, municipals are coming up and some are using their political parties to get a leg up, desp...

Municipal elections are just days away now. Utahns are voting for local leadership in dozens of races across the state. Governing Group executive director Kyle Friant has his fingers on the pulse. He joins Lindsay to walk us through some of the mostly hotly contested races. Meanwhile, the mayor of Salt Lake County has proposed a nearly 20% property tax hike. She says the county needs to offset ris...

Salt Lake and Davis counties have proposed property tax raises of roughly 20% and higher. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon weigh in on whether the proposals will stick. Plus, Utah State Senator Daniel Thatcher (District 11, Forward party) has announced his intention to resign from the legislature ahead of the next general session, and the Forward party will fill his seat. Plus, they weigh...

Donald Trump Jr. weighs in on the Utah GOP's push to repeal prop 4 as lawyers on both sides of the redistricting case prepare to return to court. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray weigh in on the impact national actors have had on Utah's efforts to draw congressional lines. Plus, ballot instructions cause confusion in Utah County as the clerk there declines to print new ballots to correct in...

The Utah GOP is sponsoring two pushes to settle the questions around redistricting in Utah. Party chair Rob Axson joins Lindsay to explain why republicans are hoping to put Map C on the 2026 ballot just weeks after the party's elected members approved it during the special session. Meanwhile, tensions are high at the state capitol. State auditor Tina Cannon is on the show to explain the behind-the...

Proponents of Prop 4 push back at the Utah GOP's bid to repeal the anti-gerrymandering criteria and the newly approved Map C. They've filed new legal action asking a court to intervene again. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Rusty Cannon weigh in on the fairness of it all and try to cut through the confusion as to where this goes next. Plus, our panel weighs into a truly controversial topic: predicting...

Exactly two weeks after the Utah Republican Party endorsed map c in Utah’s court-stipulated redistricting process, the party has filed paperwork to run a referendum to repeal map C and an initiative to ask the legislature to repeal Proposition 4. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray walk us through the implications for the process and the impact on our local and national politics. Plus, republi...

The legislature is facing new legal action after it approved a new congressional map with amended redistricting rules. Sen. Brady Brammer joins the program to explain lawmakers' position. On the national stage, the government shutdown is dragging towards the two week mark. Utah promised to keep the Mighty Five open, but who is actually paying the bills. Lindsay visits Zion National Park to get to...

The government shutdown has reached day 9, and ABC 4 went to Zion National Park to find out who's funding the parks to keep them open. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Rusty Cannon weigh in on the shutdown, talk of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and Democrats who could run for Congress because of the makeup of Utah's proposed redistricted maps.

Utah lawmakers face a new legal challenge after giving Map C their stamp of approval alongside some new redistricting criteria passed during the special session. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray debate the strategy behind the latest legal move, and how Utah Democrats could approach midterm elections in 2026.

Utah will have a special session on Monday to vote on new Congressional maps and make some tweaks to laws before the general session. Senate Parliamentarian, Todd Weiler, weighs in on which map the legislature is leaning towards, the GOP picking its favorite, and what else the legislature will change on Monday. Plus, the federal government continues to be shut down, and both Republicans and Democr...

The federal government continues to be shut down, and both Republicans and Democrats seem to be digging in their heels. Panelists Adam Gardiner and Gabi Finlayson weigh in on who's at fault and whether it's appropriate for the administration to blame Democrats on government websites. Utah is in a battle of its own over new congressional maps, and the Utah Republican Party sent an email picking its...

The federal government is barreling toward a government shutdown, and without a bipartisan deal, it's anticipated that it will at 12:01 a.m. on October 1. Panelists Taylor Morgan and Leah Murray debate who's at fault, and how Utah will be impacted. Plus, Governor Spencer Cox was on CBS's 60 Minutes, taking his "Disagree Better" campaign national. Morgan and Murray weigh in on Cox's messages of uni...

Utah's redistricting battle got heated this week- with no final agreement on the a single map for public consideration. Republicans and Democrats on the committee both accused the other side of favoring their electoral interests when drawing these maps. Republican Rep. Candace Pierucci and Democratic Rep. Doug Owens join Lindsay to discuss their positions and the ongoing efforts to find common gro...

A court-ordered redrawing of congressional districts sparked heated debate between Republicans and Democrats during their second and final public hearing on Wednesday. Panelists Rusty Cannon and Sarah Reale weigh in on who was right and who was wrong. Plus, they debate the partisan bias test and whether there should be one or multiple. Links to follow along at home: https://le.utah.gov/interim/202...

The Utah legislature has released five new maps as a part of their court-ordered redistricting. Panelists Leah Murray and Taylor Morgan do a deep dive into the details of those maps, where they're split, and whether they favor one party. They also debate the newly proposed partisan bias test and whether it should be used to determine if the maps unduly favor or disfavor any party. Link to the maps...

Two Utah lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle join Lindsay to discuss moving forward after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Plus, the legislature is on the clock to redraw Utah's congressional maps after the state Supreme Court denied their latest appeal in the gerrymandering case. Panelists Leah Murray and Erin Rider discuss. We also meet the head of Utah's newest office to manage disputes...