 Orton was one of the few bright spots for the Democrats when the Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections.In a year when many districts far less Republican than Orton's reverted to form (including the Salt Lake City-based 2nd District, traditionally the most Democratic district in the state), Orton won by just over 19 points.The 1994 election left Orton as the only Democrat representing Utah at the federal level.