Every seat in the Utah House is up for re-election this year, which means there are 75 races to cover! Unfortunately we can’t get to all of them—but we will cover as many races as we can. This article will continue to be updated with more races before Election Day, November 3.
First, find your Utah House District.
For each race we cover, you’ll see our recommendations along with quick background and rationale.1 We seek candidates who demonstrate leadership through:
A commitment to the public good and remaining accountable to constituents, not just party leaders or delegates.
Respect towards constituents, opponents, and others.
Willingness to put in the work.
Interest in basing decisions on good data, not merely ideology.
A commitment to creating and upholding just laws and Constitutional checks and balances.
We recommend candidates of many parties, including the Republican, Democratic, Forward Party, and unaffiliated.
We also believe strongly in the necessity of greater checks and balances in our state house. Because of Utah’s current one-party domination (over 80% of Utah’s current state legislators are Republican, and in our view this is causing problems), as a network we often have a preference for non-incumbent Republicans this year—although it still depends on the candidates and race.
Utah House Races
House District 3 | Logan, River Heights, Richmond
We recommend Patrick Belmont (Unaffiliated) in this race, although both he and Jason Thompson (R) seem to be solid candidates who meet our values.
Mr. Belmont is a water scientist, educator, and community advocate focused on water, energy, clean air, wildfires, and other challenges facing Utah. We find his background and experience compelling, background Utah could use at a critical time for our natural resources. Mr. Belmont is running without a party. We find independents tend to be more responsive to residents and govern based on data rather than party ideology—a win for Utah residents.
Mr. Thompson (R), an entrepeneur, longtime Cache Valley resident, and former Mayor of River Heights, is the incumbent in this race. He brings experience to the role (we generally appreciate those who have served locally, then take it to the state level) and we appreciate his priorities—affordability, civil discourse, the economy, education, water, and tax. We note that his endorsements come from the more reasonable side of the current GOP (for example, Senator Curtis, not Senator Lee).
Read their Tribune responses. Note: we are not personally familiar with these candidates, and encourage you to reach out to both with further questions.
House District 10 | Parts of Ogden, South Ogden, and Washington Terrace down to Uintah
We recommend Rosemary Lesser (D) in this race. Ms. Lesser is a military veteran and former doctor and legislator. We’ve met Ms. Lesser several times and always come away impressed by her knowledge, experience, and genuine care for Utahns—her Republican colleagues also have good things to say about her as a legislator. We hope she reclaims her seat.
Jim Alvey (R), a longtime Ogden native and PR and media professional, is the other candidate in the race. Read their Tribune responses, a summary of the race by Utah Political Watch, and more about their filings.
House District 12 | Western Weber County, including Hooper and Roy
We recommend Anna Graff (D). Ms. Graff is a community activist who serves on her city planning commission, and also the parent to a special needs child. She’s focused on preservation, affordability, and accessibility.
Her opponent is incumbent Speaker Mike Schultz. We have serious concerns about Mr. Schultz’s developer ties (including near the Stratos Data Center) and his outsized influence over both legislative priorities and which bills advance.
Read the Salt Lake Tribune guide with their responses. Watch the League of Women Voters video (Mr. Schultz declined to attend)
House District 14 | Syracuse, Clearfield
We recommend Brandon Young (D) in this race. Mr. Young is a digital media professional focused on the economy, education, and the environment in his campaign. We appreciate his practical solutions to help affordability, including detailed tax plans, healthcare plans, and more.
We worry about his opponent, John Taylor (R). Mr. Taylor is a military veteran and longtime lobbyist whose priorities include parental choice, defending his faith, and arming school teachers (which do not match Utah citizens priorities). We note that Mr. Taylor may doubt the legitimacy of the 2020 election (in his written response in the Standard Examiner) and is endorsed by some of Utah’s furthest-right legislators, including House Speaker Mike Schultz.
Watch their LWV Meet the Candidate event and read their Salt Lake Tribune responses and the Ogden Standard-Examiner pieces on Brandon Young and John Taylor for more information.
House District 16 | South Weber and Layton
We recommend Abigail Treasure (D) in this race, although we also view Bob Stevenson (R) as an acceptable choice. We prefer Ms. Treasure due to her experience as an educator and engineer, along with her work ethic and positions on public education and the environment—particularly saving the Great Salt Lake.
Mr. Stevenson is a longtime resident who brings experience on the Davis County Commission. Mostly we’re grateful he ran against Trevor Lee, defeating the former legislator during the primary. We would view his election as politics as usual—and we’re hoping for better than that.
Read their responses and watch their Q&A from League of Women Voters.
House District 18 | Farmington, Centerville
We prefer Scott Troxel (D) in this race although recognize that Paul Cutler (R) also brings useful experience to the role. Mr. Troxel brings a background in public service and policy. He is running on affordability, strengthening public education, and more transparency in government
Incumbent Paul Cutler (R), previous mayor and council member in Centerville, is running on small government, local control, collaborative decision-making, and more. We appreciate his experience and views on local control—the state often dictates policies to more local governing bodies—but are alarmed that he takes credit for the $1.4 billion cut from public education during the past 6 years.
Watch their League of Women Voters Q&A and read their Tribune responses.
House District 26 | Magna, West Valley City, Salt Lake City
We recommend Michael Finch (D) for this race. Mr. Finch has lived on the west side for almost 50 years, and is focused on addorability, supporting working families, community safety, protecting mail-in voting, the Constitution, and other environmental concerns. Network members have met Mr. Finch and appreciate his advocacy for educators and his reasonable, moderate approach to legislation.
We have concerns about incumbent Matt MacPherson‘s record on public education, including supporting HB 267 (punishing legislation against unions) and his $315,000 settlement of his lawsuit against Granite School District, taking funds from education for opposing masks on buses during COVID. Notably, Mr. MacPherson has received over $30,000 from the House Republican PAC and $20,000 from Speaker Mike Schultz’s PAC—the bulk of his fundraising. (His opponent received $5,000 from House Democrats).
Read their Tribune responses.
House District 27 | Magna, West Valley, Herriman
We recommend either Anthony Loubet (R) or Liz Oates (D) for this seat, depending on your policy preferences. Although we believe both would serve their constituents well, we overall prefer Ms. Oates to help shift the balance of power in Utah’s lopsided legislature—HD 27 is one of Utah’s few truly competitive districts between parties.
Ms. Oates is a political newcomer who brings experience as a nurse’s aide, working in juvenile detention, and as a case manager. She is focused on affordable living, healthcare that works, preserving the environment, improving mental health and disability, and listening to/protecting constituents. (She also has one of the best websites we’ve seen).
Mr. Loubet, the incumbent in this race, is one of the few Republicans who has consistently demonstrated support for public education and been willing to vote against party leadership. He is running on strong schools, affordability, infrastructure for the growing west side, accountable government, and the Great Salt Lake. We note he received the Equality Utah endorsement, which tends to select for fair-minded leaders. (We’ve learned that Mr. Loubet is in favor of this year’s Amendment B, which we strongly oppose.)
Read their Tribune responses.
House District 30 | West Valley City
Both Jake Fitisemanu and Dave Parke (Republican) both seem to be solid, principled candidates who meet our values. We prefer Mr. Fitisemanu in this race due to sheer experience, including in local elected office, as well as check on the balance of power in our state house. We believe he represents a needed voice for his community, the second largest in Utah.
Mr. Fitisemanu is a dedicated public health professional, former presidential advisor for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and two -term city councilor in West Valley City. He brings a depth of experience and perspective we don’t often see, His priorities include affordable housing and accessible healthcare as well as local issues like safe roads and neighborhoods.
Mr. Parke is a longtime West Valley resident and business leader with decades of experience. He is campaigning on affordable housing, lowering taxes, promoting healthcare, and education. While we haven’t met Mr. Parke personally, we are encouraged by his priorities: real issues, not social issues. We note that he calls himself a “practical conservative” and is endorsed by the Utah Reagan Caucus.
House District 38 | West Jordan, Taylorsville
We like both candidates in this race—what a win for House District 38! We believe both Chris McConnehey (R) and Sergio Sotelo bring unique strengths and would serve their constituents well.
Chris McConnehey (R): We have been impressed by Mr. McConnehey’s commitment to funding public education as well as his governing experience on the West Jordan City Council. We believe our legislature would benefit from more experienced city leaders taking it up to the state level. Mr. McConnehey is running on taxes, safeguarding local control, promoting quality of life, safe neighborhoods, and accountable government. See our primary voter’s guide on Mr. McConnehey and his Doers Network profile.
Sergio Sotelo (Unaffilliated) is also vying for this open seat. Mr. Sotelo is an electrician and community advocate who is focused on education, labor, and housing affordability. As a hardworking immigrant with deep roots in the Salt Lake area, he would bring a unique perspective. We appreciate Mr. Sotelo’s commitment to independence and his community.
Read their Tribune responses
House District 39 | West Jordan
We prefer Drew Howells (D) in this race. Mr. Howells is a retired military veteran with experience in public policy and advocacy. He brings real-world experience navigating healthcare as a disabled veteran. In our view, he has shown a genuine willingness to listen and learn, including conversations with Network members about public safety.
Ken Ivory (R) is the incumbent in this race. Mr. Ivory is a lawyer by progression who spent 9 years in the legislature, retired, then returned. While we note some legislative accomplishments, we also have concerns about his record on education, book restrictions, and work with the American Legisldsative Exchange Council (which in our view is a far-right astroturfing organization).
We believe residents would be served by a new face at the Capitol. Read their Tribune responses.
House District 41 | Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Midvale, Murray
We recommend John Arthur (D) in this race, new-ish incumbent after winning a special election for the seat in December 2025. By profession, Mr. Arthur is an award-winning school teacher—rare in a legislature often dominated by developers and lawyers. He is running on affordability, livability, Utahn’s rights, and revitalizing public education. We’ve found him to be a thoughtful listener who brings strong policy ideas and collaboration skills to the legislature.
Darren Croft (R) is a longtime resident of southeast Salt Lake County focused on fairness, saving the Great Salt Lake, childhood literacy, canyon transportation, wildfire mitigation, and housing affordability—among others. We are impressed by his decision not to take PAC money and appreciate his focus on education.
Read their Tribune responses.
House District 44 | South Jordan
We recommend Jess Birtcher (D). in this race. Mr. Birtcher is a longtime resident of the area focused on affordability, healthcare, and education along with worker’s rights and environmental stewardship. We note his commitment to civility and listening to residents (which we prioritize in these recommendations).
Jordan Teuscher (R), the incumbent in this race, is a lawyer and longtime resident of South Jordan. We have serious concerns about his record on education, including sponsoring the controversial HB 267, which passed without concessions instead of negotiating with local police, fire, and teachers unions. Although over 300,000 Utahns signed the referendum on this bill—it was highly unpopular—he has vowed to bring it back.
We don’t find Mr. Teuscher to be a good listener, and his unwillingness to disavow personal attacks made during the primary fail our values test. We note Mr. Teuscher’s website features endorsements by far-right leaders and that we know has previously claimed fake endorsements—leaders who didn’t really endorse him, which he refused to remove from his website before the primary.
Note: We were hopeful that Mr. Stephenson—one of the most impressive and principled candidates we’ve seen run in years—would be the Republican nominee (see our primary voter guide). In our opinion, it took a last-minute smear campaign for Mr. Teuscher prevailed in the primary. These kind of tactics turn us off, and we note Mr. Stephenson is supporting Mr. Birtcher in the general election.
Read their Tribune responses.
House District 45 | South Jordan, Sandy
We recommend Tracy Miller (R) or Rod Moser (D) for HD 45, depending on your policy preferences. Because of our worry about the lack of checks and balances in our state house, we do prefer Mr. Moser in this race.
Ms. Miller, the incumbent, has been consistent in advocating for public education during her time in the legislature. She is running strong families, air and water quality, economic development, leading with integrity, and local control. We note her occasional willingness to break with her caucus, although she often follows party lines.
Mr. Moser, a longtime resident and business owner. From his social media and more, we find Mr. Moser has extensive knowledge of housing, taxes, education, and so many other community issues, along with his thoughtful approach and willingness to consider different perspectives.
Read their Tribune responses.
House District 48 | Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan
We recommend either Jake Hunsaker (R) or Benyde Walker (D) in this race, depending on your policy preferences.
Mr. Hunsaker is a Reagan-style Republican campaigning on lower property taxes, infrastructure, and limited state government. We have found him to be willing to stand up for principles. Of note, in 2022 he ran against Burgess Owens for US House —you can find lots of media with his positions.
Ms. Walker is a longtime South Jordan resident focused on education, affordable housing, and clean air (among other priorities). We have found her to be genuinely kind, honest, and thoughtful, and have seen her make a real effort to understand education policy.
See both candidates’ Salt Lake Tribune responses.
House District 49 | Herriman, Riverton
We recommend Lillian Bowles (D). Ms. Bowles has worked in financial services and with refugee services in Utah. She is a longtime advocate for teacher and public safety, and is focused on educational opportunity, affordability, building strong communities and supporting working class families.
Incumbent Candice Pierucci is focused on some more controversial policies like school choice in education, anti-Chinese Communist Party, and preserving women’s sports along with elections, low taxes, and increased transportation and infrastructure for southwest Salt Lake County. While we appreciate some of her policies, like maternity leave for teachers, we note that Ms. Piuerucci was the sponsor of the Utah Fits All Scholarship, which in our opinion has been rife with mismanaged money and taking funds from public education.
Read their Salt Lake Tribune responses.
House District 51 | Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain
We recommend either Leah Hansen (R) or Brett Nielsen (D) for this seat, depending on your policy preferences. We believe both Ms. Hansen and Mr. Nielsen are principled leaders who will show up for their district.
Ms. Hansen is a Libertarian-leaning Republican with deep community experience who was elected in a special election last summer. She now holds the record for the most “No” votes in 20 years. We admire her willingness to talk to constituents, put in the work, and stand up for principles and against party leadership when necessary.
Mr. Nielsen is a moderate Democrat, project manager, and longtime Republican Idaho farm boy focused on public education, growth infrastructure, and protecting Utah’s resources. We have found him thoughtful and policy-focused and have seen him reach out to both his opponent and local leaders to understand their concerns and priorities.
This race is a bit of a bright spot in Utah politics: we have been impressed by the civility both candidates demonstrate and their willingness to work together. Read their Tribune responses.
House District 52 | Lehi, American Fork, Saratoga Springs
We recommend Nicole Melling (D) in this race. Ms. Melling is a nurse practitioner, adoptive mom of 5, and longtime Lehi resident. She’s also a longtime conservative who feels her party has left her (many Network of Utah Moderates members will find this familiar). Her priorities include affordable housing, accessible healthcare, education, fair election maps, and legislative accountability.
Incumbent Corey Maloy (R), sometimes known as the “gun guy” for his positions on gun rights, seems to be campaigning primarily on low taxes, gun rights, parental choice, and other social issues. We have been disappointed in his lack of responsiveness to community members and derisiveness towards people on the other side of the aisle. Notably, we actually heard him tell a constituent: ”Oh, I know you (from her emails) and I don’t agree with you” at a campaign event earlier this year.
Read both candidates’ responses in the Lehi Free Press and Salt Lake Tribune.
House District 53 | Lehi
We strongly recommend John Boyd (Forward Party) in this race. Mr. Boyd is an entrepeneur and former Marine campaigning on fair maps, mail-in ballots, funding education, air and water, disciplined fiscal management, and more. We appreciate his positions, work ethic—he has knocked all 10,000 doors in his district, something we have not heard of a single other candidate doing—and the competition he’s bringing to the race. We particularly appreciate his views on checks and balances.
Kay Christofferson (R) is the longtime incumbent in this seat, having served since 2013. He is a civil engineer by trade and is focused on strong families, Utah values, and practical leadership. we genuinely believe Mr. Christofferson has done some good work during his 7 terms in the state legislature, but we also worry about his policy “wins” like lowering income tax, which some have found to shift the burden to local property taxes (disproportionately affecting low-income Utahns).
Kevin Slater (D), an environmental scientist, is also running in this race on affordability, loosening zoning restrictions and increasing transit funding. Honestly, we wish Mr. Slater had dropped out and endorsed Mr. Boyd, who we believe has a real shot at becoming the first Forward party official elected during a general election.
Read their Salt Lake Tribune responses.
House District 54 | Highland, Alpine, Lehi, and American Fork
We recommend Kristina Robinson (D) in this race. Ms. Robinson is a longtime resident of the area, mom, former CEO, and founder of a nonprofit for ill children. She is running because she wants state legislators to focus on real Utahns needs instead of partisan bills and backdoor deals, and prioritizes affordability, healthcare, and community values.
Incumbent Kristin Chevrier (R) was appointed after a delegate special election in 2024. She is a proponent of school choice and opposes the Utah Compact. Ms. Chevrier has consistently voted with her party. We note that she has also sponsored significant “MAHA” legislation, including a bill allowing the sale of raw milk, banning SNAP users from purchasing soda, and a food additive in schools bill that banned schools from providing foods with certain ingredients. Many in public education felt this bill was legislative overreach that added unnecessary regulation and cost for large school districts, while exempting parents, charter schools, and concessions from following the same rules.
Read their Tribune responses (Ms. Chevrier did not answer).
For all races
Our guide doesn’t have to be the end! Find more information about this year’s races:
Nonpartisan sources
Utah’s Official Voter Information Pamphlet
See the official candidate list for all state candidates
Vote411.org, a nonpartisan site with ballot information
Ballotpedia, nonpartisan source with helpful information about candidates and races
League of Women Voters recorded Meet-the-Candidates events (mostly Davis County)
Independent journalist sources
Utah Political Watch—specifically the Competitive Ratings for each each Utah House race are very interesting
Utah Election Info (mostly Utah County)
Partisan
Equality Utah endorsements, which look for leaders across the spectrum who are dedicated to uplifting and representing everyone in their communities.
When we feel multiple candidates meet our standards, we recommend both, although we may indicate a preference.
Waiting for district 54!