Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald
Ann Schreck speaks during a Democratic engagement event at Provo City Library on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Schreck is a candidate for Utah House District 53.
For Democrats running for office in Utah, uphill battle can be an understatement. Historically in Utah County, understatement barely covers it.
“I can’t change the letter next to my name, and I don’t necessarily want to, but I don’t want that to be the issue. I recognize that it’s a big, big hurdle to move from an R to a D, but I know there’s a lot of political exhaust from both parties,” Ann Schreck said.
Schreck is the Democratic candidate for the Utah House of Representatives in District 53, formerly District 56, covering part of Lehi and northwest American Fork.
While incumbent Rep. Kay Christofferson faced off with a candidate from the United Utah Party in 2020, he has not had a Democratic opponent since first being elected in 2012.
Utah Sen. Mike Dmitrich was the last Democrat to represent even a portion of Utah County.
His district covered parts of Utah, Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties until his retirement in 2008.
This year, five Democratic candidates are seeking state house seats in Utah County. Two more are running for state senate seats that inch into the county — District 18 contains a sliver of north Utah County west of Lehi and District 19 covers parts of Highland and Alpine — along with one candidate for county office.
For Schreck, the experience has been significantly different from what she expected and showed what parts of campaigning she struggles with.
“It has been eye-opening. It’s a much more complicated and detailed thing than I imagined. I had kind of a hopeful optimism of a citizen wanting to serve, that whole bit, and it’s just a lot,” she said. “I hate the fundraising part, I just loathe that. I think it makes it difficult for the average person to run for office.”
With money not going as far as it has in the past, due to inflation and other economic strains, Schreck said it feels “strange” asking people for donations.
While every campaign is different, candidates like Schreck overlap with UCDP Chair Katie Adams-Anderton’s plans for success.
“I think we just have to rely hugely on the people who are moving here, and especially the youth. You look at Provo, right? Provo is largely Democrat. Even this last election a majority of people in Provo voted for Becky Edwards,” she said. Adams-Anderton added the Lehi area, where Schreck is running, and the Highland area as ones with favorable demographics along with Provo.
Schreck moved to Utah County over 25 years ago, having graduated from BYU, and moved around the state before settling in Lehi.
“This area that I’m in is a changing demographic area for Lehi,” Schreck said. “Lehi is a perfect example of urban sprawl. … The demographic is very different.”
She’s even campaigning on her not having grown up in the city. Schreck promotes her making a home in Lehi and working as a data analyst as a way to connect with other newcomers and advocate for a future that shows the city is a changing hub for technology and innovation directly between Salt Lake and the Provo/Orem area.
“It’s one commitment to love your hometown and never want to leave it. It’s another to choose your home,” she said.
As for actually meeting with potential constituents, Schreck has knocked on doors and is currently planning more in-person events. She believes voters are not necessarily looking for someone with connections or an expanded resume; they want somebody they can trust.
In addition to traditional door knocking, the UCDP is working on a system for candidates to more easily text and call potential constituents.
With a personal caveat that she might be viewing the process in the most optimistic light possible, Schreck connects deeply with America’s founding principles.
“I believe that patriotism means participation. That means we participate by voting, by learning about issues. This is a democracy, but more importantly it’s a republic. It doesn’t work unless we all join together,” she said.
Despite the positivity, Schreck, Adams-Anderton and every other member of the Democratic Party in the county knows the difficulties they face.
Adams-Anderton stressed that one issue for November could be any connection between Utah County candidates and others nationwide. “People are (angry) right now at the Democratic Party,” Adams-Anderton said. Her hope is that, locally, people judge candidates on their merits instead of drawing connections to national issues like inflation.
In her race, Schreck is advocating for improving school systems — teaching people how to read, learn, think and continue to educate themselves — along with protecting natural resources and providing social safety nets.
On his campaign website, Christofferson included among his top issues a promise to “Cut taxes, cut government spending and cut the red tape.”
The general election for candidates of state, county and federal offices will take place on Nov. 8.
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