The influence of Mormons in Utah
Under the church's guidance, Utah has evolved into a conservative state where the good of the church is placed above most other concerns. The Utah legislature is overwhelmingly Mormon, Republican, and conservative. In 2012, nearly 73% of the state voted for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and national Republican candidates regularly pull 70% of the state’s votes. It is estimated that 70% of Utah’s population belongs to the LDS faith, and the church controls or operates the number-one television and radio stations (KSL), the number-two newspaper (the Desert News), a major university (Brigham Young), and the largest bank (Zions).