Friends, family and neighbors drove up the dark, winding road to Tollgate Canyon on Tuesday hoping for an evening where politics seemed a little less divisive — until the weather had a say.
Republican Ari Ioannides hosted an election night watch party at his eastern Summit County home that started as a gathering of campaign supporters eager to watch the national and local results roll in. But as the attendees discussed local issues and what the next chapter for the county could be, Ioannides announced some unexpected news: No one could leave.
Feelings of unease swirled as Democrats and Republicans, often on opposite sides of the political spectrum, were forced to stay put for a few hours while the slippery road was cleared.
About a dozen miles away in Quarry Village, Democrat Megan McKenna and more than 100 party members met at O’Shucks to watch the election returns. Anxiety was high, but it was also an opportunity to celebrate their hard work.
Yet the mood at both events shifted to camaraderie as the evening wore on, weathering both the storm and the unpredictability of the election.
For many, the gatherings reflected the heart of the Summit County Council campaign: forging connections with people who may have different opinions, sharing a commitment to community, and working together to find a way forward.
The candidates for Seat C were both inspired to run for the County Council to be a voice for underrepresented voters in the community.
Ioannides characterized himself as a moderate Republican seeking to represent residents of eastern Summit County who do not feel heard, while McKenna has been a champion for the working class.
McKenna, who appears to have won the election based on preliminary results released Thursday, has been campaigning for the open seat since filing her candidacy in January.
She faced off against Snyderville Basin Planning Commissioner Thomas Cooke at the Summit County Democratic Party nominating convention in March, and later won the June primary election after neither candidate was able to secure 60% of the delegate vote.
Since then, she was focused on the general election.
Ioannides had an easier path to earning his place on the ballot when Republican Byron Ames dropped out of the race, eliminating the need for the party to choose its nominee. However, Ioannides felt that might have actually been a disadvantage because there wasn’t as much publicity surrounding his candidacy.
Both the local Democratic and Republican campaigns started to heat up in August. McKenna and Ioannides each hosted meet-the-candidate events, debated at community forums, canvassed neighborhoods, participated in phone banking and organized fundraisers.
Pre-election campaign financial reports submitted in late October reveal Ioannides collected around $23,745 in contributions from 48 people, including a $13,000 donation from himself. He estimated the expenditures would cause the campaign to break even.
McKenna raised about $34,200 in monetary contributions from more than 100 donors as well as $4,167 from in-kind donations. She had $5,604 left over as of the latest filing.
The Summit County GOP donated $1,000 to Ioannides, while McKenna received $5,000 from her party.
Summit County Democratic Party Chair Rory Swensen said Democrats have an uphill battle in Utah because the state tends to be more conservative.
Swensen estimated the county Democratic Party contributed around $12,000 total to various campaigns in the area, an increase from previous years. They also hired full-time field organizer Jake Morris for the 2024 election, who played a significant role in recruiting volunteers, organizing, and laying the groundwork for the organization.
Meanwhile, Ioannides felt he faced a challenge in the local election because Summit County politics tend to lean left., and all elected offices are held by Democrats.
The Republican was focused on meeting people where they are at — whether knocking on doors or organizing neighborhood meetings.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Ioannides gave a stump speech at a country western rendezvous in Highland Estates hosted by supporters. The civic-minded group belonged to various political parties, and found themselves inspired by Ioannides’ history of service and his vision to improve the community.
Anne Bransford, one of the hosts, said she’s known Ioannides for 15 years. She identifies as an independent, but said she’s voting for the Republican because he gives back to the community and doesn’t just “talk the talk, but walks the walk.”
Both candidates said the most surprising part of the campaign was canvassing. Ioannides and McKenna felt nervous about going door-to-door, but they each said it was the most rewarding.
Ioannides, a tech entrepreneur, utilized software to target specific texts and advertisements to voters. He was able to track who hadn’t voted yet and which residences belonged to registered Republicans or Democrats. Ioannides organized much of his campaign himself, although he enlisted the help of trusty volunteer Jay Deuser.
McKenna said the canvassing experience allowed her to connect with people in a way that restored her faith in the community. Politics can be incredibly divisive, but McKenna also realized many Summit County residents have the same worries and concerns about their homes.
Her campaign manager, Jenny Dorsey, said she supports McKenna because Summit County needs a candidate to help reframe local government. The pair have campaigned at honk-and-wave events as well as Park City’s Howl-o-ween on Main celebration.
That was particularly surreal for McKenna, who had a supporter write and perform a song dedicated to her candidacy.
She was greeted with widespread celebration when the initial results showing her steady lead were released late on election night.
Ioannides on Tuesday night said he felt good regardless. He accepted either outcome the week before the election, and spent the night thanking his supporters for their trust.
Swensen said the county Democratic Party felt positive about the local results that were released as all candidates retained their seats. There was also exceptional voter turnout, likely because of the presidential election.
He felt the local and state Democratic Party made decent progress in building a robust “ground game” in order to grow in 2026. The New York Times reported Utah was one of two states that did not move to the right this election.
“We’re not done. We had some setbacks. … But we’re here,” Swensen said.