Race Analysis

Utah is best known as the homeland of the Mormon religion.  For years the state leaned Democratic, but as the culture wars heated up it began to shift toward the Republicans.  The state hasn't elected a Democratic senator since the 1970s, and all of the Republicans elected have been varying degrees of conservative.  Of course, in a place like Utah those varying degrees matter; in 2010 Sen. Bob Bennett lost his seat -- for being too much of a moderate -- to Tea Party favorite Mike Lee.

There was speculation that Orrin Hatch would suffer the same fate, but a strong challenge failed to materialize.  Hatch is a heavy favorite against former state minority leader Scott Howell.