Utah Dems to hold special election filling the seat of Sen. Karen Mayne

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Democratic delegates will hold a virtual special election at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, to fill the seat of Sen. Karen Mayne as she steps down due to health issues.

This special election comes after Mayne announced her resignation on Jan. 4, 2023, due to her battle with cancer. She has been representing West Valley since 2008.

Ben Anderson with the Utah Democratic Party says delegates from Senate District 12 will hear from 10 candidates before voting in the special election.

“Every candidate is going to have a chance to speak for two minutes to the delegates,” he says. “Then voting will open … Delegates will vote electronically in a rank-choice election for who they want to fill that seat.”

Anderson says voting will close Monday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m.

Along with this, he calls the election bittersweet for delegates who love working with Mayne.

“Obviously, we’re very, very saddened by Sen. Mayne’s resignation. She’s gonna be missed greatly in the legislature,” he says. “She’s accomplished so much over her career … we’re going to miss her.”

Anderson says this is a very important seat and whoever wins it will have to run in 2024 to fill the remainder of the term.

“I hope whoever the delegates pick is ready to jump right into the session and [is] ready to campaign in 2024,” he says.

Voting will take place in an open-to-the-public Zoom meeting. Click here for the link and more information on the 10 candidates.

See more below.

Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News can be heard on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Read more:

• Democratic Senator Karen Mayne resigns from Utah Senate
• Utah senate minority leader Karen Mayne announces she has cancer
• Opinion: The high-stake musical chairs game of redistricting, explained

Follow @oldroyd_devin