Preliminary election results show decisive victories in Moab election
Incumbent Mayor Joette Langianese has won reelection with a decisive victory over Curtis Wells, while Jason Taylor and Miles Loftin secured the two open city council seats, according to preliminary results from Tuesday’s municipal election.
Langianese captured 57.12% of the vote with 1,192 votes, defeating Wells who received 42.88% with 895 votes in the preliminary count. The results represent a strong mandate for Langianese to continue her leadership of the city after a race that focused largely on the introduction of a city property tax in 2024.
City council race sees strong turnout
In the city council at-large race, where voters could select two candidates, incumbent Jason Taylor led with 43.64% of the vote (1,459 votes), followed by newcomer Miles Loftin with 34.46% (1,152 votes). Howard Trenholme finished third with 21.90% of the vote (732 votes).
Taylor, who has served on the council for the past four years, will return for a second term alongside Loftin, a contractor who currently serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The election saw strong voter participation with 64% turnout, as 3,729 ballots were cast out of 5,862 registered voters in Grand County. All voting methods—in-person, mail-in ballots, and provisional ballots—were completed on election night.
Proposition 13 passes overwhelmingly
Grand County voters also approved Proposition 13 by a wide margin, with 66.68% voting yes (2,474 votes) and 33.32% voting no (1,236 votes). This measure asked voters in Grand County to increase the rural healthcare sales and use tax from 0.5 % to 1.0 % on taxable sales as allowed under state law to support local emergency and fire services.
The Utah Lieutenant Governor’s office reports these as unofficial results that were last updated at 11:54:50 PM on Tuesday. Final results will be certified following the standard post-election processes.
The newly elected and returning officials will be sworn in during the next regularly scheduled city council meeting. Their terms will begin in January 2026.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available and results are certified.
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