Utah Senate District 21: Brady Brammer vs. Kelly Smith
Candidate guide for the Republican Primary for Utah’s Senate District 21 in north-eastern Utah County.
About this position
Utah has 29 state senators who form one of the two chambers. Each senator represents around (or just over) 100,000 Utah residents. Senators are part-time legislators who serve during Utah’s yearly legislative session, which runs for 45 days from January to March, as well as during each interim session and on various committees and commissions. State senators also confirm judicial appointments, department heads, and other appointed positions.
Senate District 21 (“SD21”) comprises parts of Alpine, Lehi, Highland, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hills, and Lindon. Find your state senate district.
Candidates
Top priorities come from candidates’ official websites. We're here to jump-start or supplement your own research. Please review candidate websites, connect with candidates at meet-and-greet events, watch video footage of candidate Q&As, etc. to find the best information about your candidates.
See what values and attributes we’re looking for in political candidates.
Brady Brammer
Born and raised in Utah County. Attorney, business owner. Elected to the Utah House in 2019 and currently serving in the Utah Senate after winning a special election in 2024.
Top priorities (from website): the caucus system, limited federal government, family values
Insights: Mr. Brammer is currently in Senate leadership. We’re concerned about many of the decisions made during that time, decisions that have cut over $1 billion from public education funding, bypassed local control, elevated partisanship, and undermined judicial independence. We also note that he’s proudly endorsed by ultraconservative groups, including Utah Parents United and Americans for Prosperity. See more about Mr. Brammer’s record.
On a personal note: we’ve actually heard Mr. Brammer talk down to constituents concerned about his bills (particularly teachers). We’ve also heard from multiple elected officials in the cities he represents that he comes to meeting with the attitude “what’s in it for me?” on bills they felt would help their communities.
To be clear, we’d oppose him based on his record alone, but these interactions have strengthened that decision. We do not feel Mr. Brammer upholds the values we’re looking for, like responsibility and accountability, in Utah leaders.
Kelly Smith
About: 30-year resident of northern Utah County. Business owner and former educator, current Cedar Hills city council member.
Top priorities (from website): Fighting for local control, championing term limits, strong educational outcomes, community preservation, and public safety.
Insights: We have met with Ms. Smith personally and have watched her interact respectfully with constituents who disagree with her. We’re also impressed by her decades of commitment to her community and to local decision-making.
After reviewing her materials and repeated interactions, we strongly support Kelly Smith as the Republican candidate in this race. Importantly, we feel confident that Ms. Smith, a former public school teacher, will support and fund public education, prioritize evidence-based policies, and truly listen to community voices. Read more about her experience and priorities.
Our Recommendation
We strongly support Kelly Smith as the Republican candidate in this race.
She brings experience—literal decades of public service—and has demonstrated thoughtfulness and respect throughout her campaign. Moreover, Ms. Smith exemplifies many of the attributes we’re looking for in a candidate.
What’s next?
The winner of the June 2026 Republican primary will face Wayne Woodfield from the centrist Forward Party as well as Kandee Myers, the Democratic nominee, in November.
Learn more about the district and the race.