Utah’s Sen. Deidre Henderson announces she is not seeking reelection

Sen. Deidre Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, smiles as she walks onto the House floor as the 2020 Utah Legislature begins at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

She adds to a list of lawmakers who are not returning for another term

SALT LAKE CITY — After eight years at the Legislature, Sen. Deidre Henderson will not return to the Utah Senate for next year’s session.

Henderson, one of two Republican women serving in the Senate, announced on Facebook Wednesday that she has withdrawn as a candidate for reelection.

She joins nine other lawmakers who have announced they are leaving the Legislature.

“This was a difficult decision, but I’m confident in the leaders of our state and the resiliency of our community,” Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, wrote. “In the coming days, when the ground stops shaking and the world slows down, I look forward to sharing with each of you what my future holds.”

She did not include the reason for her decision in the post, but said she intends to carry out the remainder of her term, which concludes in January.

Henderson told the Deseret News that she will have “more information in the coming days” about what is next for her.

“You may have disagreed from time to time with the way I voted, but I have always tried my best to listen to you and use a principled approach to protect freedom, increase government transparency, and limit the intrusion of government into our lives,” she wrote in the Facebook post.

Henderson appeared in numerous national headlines last week when she and the other women serving in the Senate pushed back against a bill that would have required a doctor to show an individual an ultrasound before an abortion. Lawmakers adopted Henderson’s amendment to the bill that would have explicitly prohibited the use of a transvaginal ultrasound, but she then joined the other female senators in a bipartisan protest during the vote.

Following their demonstration, Henderson released a statement saying the women of the Senate decided to walk out in protest to “put an exclamation mark” on their concerns about “the invasive nature” of the bill.

Though it passed the Senate, the bill failed to get a final vote the last night of the session.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert told reporters later that night that the women sent a “strong message” — one he noted and hopes men will respond to in a positive way.

Henderson also successfully sponsored legislation this year that drops the polygamy criminal penalty to an infraction — a change she explained during committee hearings as necessary to help victims terrified of felony charges to come forward to report abuse, fraud and other crimes.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Lehi, voiced his appreciation for Henderson in a tweet shortly after her announcement.

“She has advanced important rights, freedoms and protections throughout our state, representing her constituents and Utah well. Henderson will be greatly missed in the Senate,” he wrote.

Freshman lawmaker Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-West Jordan, also joined the chorus of legislators, thanking Henderson for being an “incredible role model and friend.”

She joins a list of veteran lawmakers who will not be returning for the 2021 session.

Senators Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, and Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, are also not running again, according to Senate Communications Director Aundrea Peterson.

Christensen has held his seat since 2005; Okerlund since 2009.

In the House, several other lawmakers will also not seek reelection, including Democrats Rep. Marie Poulson, Cottonwood Heights, and Rep. Sue Duckworth, Magna. They were elected in 2008. They both announced that they will not be seeking reelection March 12, the last day of the 2020 legislative session.

Prior to serving in the Legislature, Poulson worked as a high school English and history teacher.

“Serving in the Utah state Legislature has been one of the greatest opportunities of my life,” Poulson said in a press release. “I am pleased I was able to help improve and support the education system in our state, but we still have much work to do.”

Duckworth, who served in the same House seat as her husband, Carl Duckworth, said in a press release she feels good about what she was able to accomplish and looks forward to spending more time with family and neighbors.

Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek, will also not be seeking reelection after nearly 20 years of service.

In a press release sent Jan. 16, Arent said she did not arrive at the “decision lightly” and that she wants more time to “pursue other paths, including working with some of the wonderful organizations devoted to improving our community and quality of life.”

Throughout her time with the Legislature, Arent passed more than 80 bills, including a bill to repeal straight-ticket voting just 8 minutes before the conclusion of her last 45-day session — legislation she has repeatedly sponsored throughout the years.

According to the Utah House Republicans Twitter page, North Ogden Rep. Kyle Andersen, Salem Hills Rep. Marc Roberts, Heber City Rep. Tim Quinn and Rep. Lee Perry, Perry, are also not seeking reelection.

“I’m currently serving in my 10th year in the Legislature and I hope that during my service that I have planted trees, under whose shade I do not expect to sit under,” Perry wrote on Twitter.

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