Ofa Matagi Leads in House District 43 as Utah Democrats Gain Seats

Utah House Democrats and unaffiliated candidates are on pace to capture 15 seats from House Republicans, shattering a GOP supermajority that has held firm in the state legislature for more than three decades.

Preliminary results show the dramatic shift unfolding. Among the most striking races is House District 43, where Ofa Matagi holds a nearly 12-percentage-point lead over incumbent Republican Representative Steve Eliason.

Matagi spent election night at home under strict doctor’s orders, recovering from the birth of her son just one week prior. While she walked neighborhoods in Sandy, Midvale, and Cottonwood Heights heavily pregnant, her campaign operated on what she described to the Utah News Dispatch as a humble, shoestring budget.

Here's a recap of Utah's key House races, 2026

When her friend Representative Verona Mauga texted her the news that she was ahead, Matagi started crying. With nearly 56% of the vote compared to Eliason’s 44%, her double-digit margin makes a late flip unlikely.

Matagi noted that voters across her district shared similar anxieties regarding the economy, healthcare, and housing affordability.

Ofa Matagi Leads in House District 43 as Utah Democrats Gain Seats — Photo: kpvi.com

While local Democrats celebrate the historic gains, the defeat of several Republican incumbents brings mixed feelings. Eliason, who served in the legislature for 16 years, was considered a moderate member of the GOP caucus who reached across the aisle and worked in a bipartisan fashion, known as a longtime champion for mental health and homelessness issues.

Just days after the election, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Eliason shared a panel at a Utah Office of Homeless Services summit at Fort Douglas, as reported by the Utah News Dispatch. During the event, Eliason acknowledged that he would likely not return to the Capitol in an official capacity next year.

Republicans stand to lose supermajority in Utah House

Mayor Wilson called for a standing ovation for Eliason for his work in homelessness and mental health.

Despite his impending departure, Eliason plans to look for sponsors to carry on bills, including two omnibus bills that include improvements to Utah’s homeless and behavioral health systems, as well as another to use $200 million from Utah’s settlement with Meta for youth mental health services.

House Republicans are still projected to maintain a simple majority of roughly 46 seats in the 75-member chamber, but the loss of the supermajority fundamentally alters the legislative process. As the remaining ballots are processed and certified, lawmakers from both parties prepare for a significantly different political dynamic when the legislature reconvenes.