Jenkins defeated in bid for Utah Senate president

SALT LAKE CITY — State lawmakers have re-elected their House speaker and selected a new Senate president to replace a longtime legislator who is retiring.

The selections follow a general election that saw Republicans make additional gains in both chambers, capturing two seats in both the House and Senate that were previously held by Democrats. Republicans now hold a 24-5 majority in the Senate and a 60-15 majority in the House.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday that Republican Rep. Becky Lockhart of Provo won a second term as speaker. Lockhart, Utah’s first woman speaker, fended off a challenge from Republican Rep. Mike Noel of Kanab.

Meanwhile, senators chose Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, as the next Senate president over Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, a Republican from Plain City. Niederhauser replaces Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, who is retiring after four terms in the Senate and a decade in the House.

Niederhauser promised to listen to the public and try to be inclusive and transparent in policymaking.

"It’s not about us, the Senate or the House. It’s about what is good for the people," he said. "We have to look outside our bodies. All things can’t be created inside here, and that means that people . need to be involved with their Legislature."

However, Niederhauser said that does not mean the Senate will open its caucuses, which he said gives lawmakers a forum to debate issues without reporters, lobbyists and the public watching their every word.

Sen. Ralph Okerlund was selected as Senate majority leader. Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, was unopposed as majority whip, and Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City, was re-elected as assistant whip.

In the House, Republicans returned the entire leadership team except for electing Rep. Don Ipson, R-St. George, as assistant whip to fill a vacancy.

Majority Leader Brad Dee, R-Ogden, and Whip Greg Hughes, R-Draper, were re-elected along with Lockhart, while Ipson will replace Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, who decided not to run again for assistant whip.