Political Trends - What's Next in Washington?

Jan 12, 2018

2 min

Mary  Bennett

With the new year, commentators from all over the country are offering their predictions for American politics in 2018. From the border wall to healthcare, the world is wondering what 2018 has in store for Washington and the United States.

Mary Bennett, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service and Southern Utah University’s expert on current political trends, offers her predictions on what to expect for this year.


“Nationally, I predict we will see a tectonic shift in the composition of Congress as a result of the midterm elections. Currently, 37 US House Republicans have announced resignation, retirement, or are running for another office in 2018 -- and it’s only January.”


By comparison, 16 US House Democrats fill these categories.


“Some pundits predict a ‘blue wave’ election where Democrats will win control of the House of Representatives, as traditionally the ruling party loses congressional seats in midterm elections.”


Regardless of the balance of power, Bennett emphasizes that this high number of departures of experienced legislators constitutes a tremendous loss of institutional knowledge and history.


“The group of departing Republican members includes eight House committee chairs. Committees are where all the work gets done in Congress, and the loss of Republican leadership in nearly every major policy area will be difficult to replicate with newly elected members. So, while the outcome of the election is not yet known, we do know that there will be a significant loss of experienced legislators and subject matter experts on conservative policies in the House of Representatives.”


Locally, Bennett predicts that Utah will see an exciting election year. 


“Each of the current US House members will have at least one serious challenger, and incumbents will be asked to articulate their support or opposition to Trump administration policies. With the resignation of Sen. Orrin Hatch, there will be an open race for US Senate, a phenomenon that does not occur often in Utah.”

According to Bennett, the Utah Senate race will receive national media attention for a number of reasons. 


“One reason will be the potential candidacy of Mitt Romney, the former Republican nominee for president in 2012. Romney publicly denounced Donald Trump as an unfit candidate for president in a Salt Lake City speech in early 2016.”

“Another reason for national interest will be the uniqueness of Utah’s vote in the 2016 presidential election. Utah had the strongest turnout in the nation (21%) for a third party presidential candidate. There will be a strong temptation for the national media to use the Utah Senate race as a bellwether for gauging the popular success of the president’s policies.”


Bennett’s professional experience spans over 25 years in a range of Washington, DC institutions including the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, The Washington Campus and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.


Connect with:
Mary  Bennett

Mary Bennett

Director of the Micheal O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service

Specializing in U.S. campaigns and elections, government relations, and public policy and advocacy

Utah Political CandidatesUtah Legislative BodyPolitical CommunicationCongressional CampaignsRegulatory Policy for Financial Industries

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Southern Utah University

1 min

Persuasive Attack: Threatening Reputations in Public Discourse

The Department of Communications at Southern Utah University has been busy with a recent book launch garnering attention. Dr. Kevin Stein and Dr. Matt Barton recently published Persuasive Attack: Threatening Reputations in Public Discourse. The book investigates the nature of persuasive attack by examining the strategies used in various cases to denigrate an individual or organization for their behavior and/or character. This groundbreaking book explores the intricate dynamics of persuasive communication, offering a critical framework for understanding how rhetorical strategies can influence public perception and discourse. Dr. Matthew H. Barton teaches courses in Persuasion, Communication Theory, Critical Thinking, Health Communication, and Interpersonal Communication. Dr. Kevin A. Stein's research focuses primarily on the rhetoric of attack (kategoria), defense (apologia), and persuasive responses to defense (antapologia). Other academic interests include political campaign communication and popular culture. Interested in learning more about this topic or looking to speak with either Barton or Stein - then let us help. Simply click on either expert's icon now to arrange an interview today.

3 min

SUU Professor and Author Todd Petersen meets with Utah Prison Book Club

Southern Utah University Professor of English and Cedar City-based author Todd Robert Petersen shared his most recent novel with the Utah Prison Education Project’s (UPEP) book club. Petersen joined the club to discuss his book, Picnic in the Ruins, and engage with readers eager to share their thoughts and questions. “The book club program at the Utah State Prison is such an interesting program, and I was so grateful to be invited to join the group for an evening as they discussed my novel,” said Petersen. “The readers in the group were so well prepared and had so many amazing insights and perspectives to share. I love knowing that these students were so dedicated to reading carefully and well, and preparing themselves to participate in a very high-level discussion.” Petersen has found literacy, creative thinking, and analytical thinking to be crucial skills for the future and tries to teach those skills in his courses at SUU. Petersen currently teaches Writing for the Screen, Screen Aesthetics, Advanced Fiction Writing, and Creative Writing Capstone. “It’s a thrill to know that my book can be a tool for that kind of teaching in this special education program,” said Petersen. “It feels like a wonderful way to explore how my creative work and teaching goals can intersect in a meaningful way.” The UPEP book club, established in 2019, has grown from three initial participants to a thriving community of readers from diverse backgrounds. The club meets every week to explore literature centered around a chosen theme. This fall, the theme, “Deseret Dreamers,” highlights works by authors with ties to Utah. The group relies on donations to provide members with copies of the books they discuss, and afterward, the books are donated to the prison library. “Having new books in here is like a treasure for a lot of guys,” said “Craig,” a long-standing club participant. “We get to escape, explore, and see things from a different perspective.” The club members not only brought annotated copies of the book, but also notes, questions, and quotes that resonated with them. “I was so impressed with how carefully they had read it and how much they had researched the issues the book brings up,” Petersen said. “You drive by these buildings and form perceptions based on what you’ve seen on television or in movies,” said Petersen. “But spending time with these individuals changes everything. I want them to know they are valued, capable of change, and that learning can transform their lives.” The English Department at SUU engages students through quality teaching and dynamic learning communities that foster an understanding of diverse literature and a command of essential writing skills. SUU is dedicated to promoting learning and personal growth in diverse communities and is proud to have had this interaction with the Utah Prison Education Project. By connecting educators, authors, and incarcerated individuals, SUU strives to empower lives through education and literature. If you want to know more about Todd Robert Petersen's recent book, he is available to speak with the the media. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

2 min

Fervo Energy, Southern Utah University, and Elemental Impact Launch Geothermal Drilling & Completions Apprenticeship Program

Fervo Energy (“Fervo”), the leader in next-generation geothermal development, along with Southern Utah University (SUU), an institution known for its personalized approach to learning, and Elemental Impact (“Elemental”), a non-profit investing platform that invests in climate companies and projects with deep local impact, today announced the launch of a geothermal apprenticeship program to help oil and gas workers and Southwest Utah residents join the rapidly growing enhanced geothermal industry. The first-of-a-kind geothermal apprenticeship program advances labor momentum spurred by the Inflation Reduction Act. The program, administered by SUU and funded in part by Elemental, will provide those seeking new skill sets with the opportunity to learn geothermal directional drilling and well completions, while combining on-the-job training with college-level coursework on geology and energy systems. This unique approach offers pathways for traditional college students as well as adult and working learners interested in careers in the geothermal energy industry. “Thousands of Americans work in upstream oil and gas, and with the right tools, they can easily apply their skill sets to geothermal production,” said Tim Latimer, Fervo CEO and Co-Founder. “We can harness the full potential of this existing talent pool and attract new talent beyond current fossil fuel workers by providing on-the-ground and in-classroom training opportunities. We believe that our apprenticeship program with SUU can ignite that process, supporting local job growth across Southwest Utah.” Already, 22 individuals working with ten different oilfield service providers operating in the area have registered for the geothermal apprenticeship program. By the end of 2024, the program aims to enroll at least 40 apprentices, providing them with an opportunity to fill an immediate workforce need upon completion of the apprenticeship. “Southwest Utah has the resource potential to become a national clean energy hub, and we have the human potential to make that vision a reality,” said Dr. Bill Heyborne, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Professor of Biology. “Our new apprenticeship program will prepare Utahns to drive much-needed energy innovation in the communities they call home.” Funding from Elemental Impact, a nonprofit investor in climate technology and community focused initiatives, enabled Fervo to offer this workforce training program. "Demand for electricity is surging and expected to double in the US by 2030; geothermal sources, like those being deployed by Fervo, have the potential to meet that demand while boosting local jobs,” said Dawn Lippert, Founder and CEO of Elemental Impact. “We are thrilled to support this geothermal apprenticeship program and help power the transfer of valuable skills from oil and gas professionals to the geothermal industry. This initiative, in partnership with SUU, is an essential bridge to building a local workforce and advancing the clean energy transition." Dr. Heyborne is available to speak with the media. For more information click on his icon to arrange an interview.

View all posts