Utah has 29 state senators who each represent around 100,000 Utah residents. Just over half are up for election or re-election this year. Like their counterparts in the house, state senators are part-time legislators. State lawmakers 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.
With 15 state senate races, we will cover as many races as we can (and have good knowledge about). We always appreciate insights from Network members who have met, worked with, and talked to these candidates—please reach out at networkofutahmoderates@gmail.com if you have additional information to give!
This article will continue to be updated with more races before Election Day, November 3.
First, find your state Senate District.
For each race we cover, you’ll see our recommendations along with quick background and rationale. 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.
See the other values we’re looking for. 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. Utah is currently dominated by one party—over 80% of Utah’s current state legislators are Republican. In our view, this lack of need to compromise, slow down, or listen to constituents is causing problems. Because of this, as a network we often have a preference for non-incumbent and non-Republicans this year, although it still depends on their character, the candidates, and the specific race.
In our opinion, changing the makeup of the state senate—which only requires 4 or 5 new, more independent-minded state senators—is the most effective lever to change Utah politics and make it more responsive to citizens instead of party leadership
Utah Senate
Senate District 5 | Ogden, South Ogden, Riverdale, Washington Terrace, Roy, Clearfield, and South Weber to Enterprise
We strongly recommend CJ Hernandez (D) in this race. Ms. Hernandez brings an impressive background as a senior US diplomat and would bring unique experience working in defense, diplomacy, and human rights all over the world. She values fiscal responsibility and people-focused policies. We’ve personally met Ms. Hernandez and were impressed by her depth of knowledge, experience, and care for her community.
The Republican candidate, Jill Koford (R) is a current Utah House Representative and educator. While we appreciate some of Ms. Koford’s answers and experiences, we also noticed hyperpartisan talking points throughout her website—including a line stating that “democrats would like us dependent on the government.” We view this as a straw-man argument and are looking for less partisanship in our state government.
Read more answers from Ms. Hernandez and watch their League of Women’s Voters event.
Senate District 6 | Clearfield, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse
We recommend either Josh Smith (Forward Party), or Jared Neal (D). Mr. Smith is a software engineering manager born and raised in northern Utah. He is focused on education solutions, Utah values, and housing—and believes in looking at data and changing opinions when presented evidence otherwise.
Mr. Neal is a risk manager working with financial, insurance, and small businesses. His working-class background (and being raised by two union employees) informs his worldview. His top priorities include “kitchen table” issues like housing, healthcare, and childcare.
Tami Tran (R) is currently the Kaysville City mayor and CEO of a DOD contracting company. She lists typical Republican issues on her campaign website: 2nd amendment rights, faith, family, fiscal responsibility, and choice in education. Senator Mike Lee and House Speaker Mike Shultz are among those endorsing her. We believe she is a capable leader who would bring more of the same type of representation to the legislature that we have now.
This is an open seat with the retirement of longtime senator Jerry Stevenson. Since we feel Utah needs something other than the supermajority status quo, we recommend Mr. Neal or Mr. Smith.
Watch the LWV Meet-the-Candidate interview and read their Tribune responses.
Senate District 7: South Weber, Peterson, Milton, Fruit Heights, Littleon, Kaysville, Farmington, Centerville
We recommend either Stephanie Hollist (R) or Garrett Rushforth (D) in this race, depending on your policy preferences. After many years with the same incumbent, we are thrilled for voters in Senate District 7 to have two good options to represent them.
Ms. Hollist is a lifelong Utahn and longtime public attorney. Her policies include building trust through transparency, accountability, and listening to constituents; helping working Utahns provide for their families; and supporting Utah’s youth.
Mr. Rushforth is a teacher in Davis School District focused on education, saving the Great Salt Lake, ensuring fair maps, and helping housing and affordability.
Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Ostler is also running (we couldn’t find a website, but see the Constitution Party site or see his campaign page from 2024). In our experience, most Constitution Party candidates are not “moderate” in any sense of the word.
Watch the League of Women Voter’s event for SD7 and read their Tribune responses.
Senate District 11 | Spans 3 counties, including cities like Eagle Mountain, Tooele, Herriman, Magna, and Kearns
We recommend Emily Buss (Forward Party) in this race. Ms. Buss, a mom and nonprofit leader and one of the youngest legislators in Utah, was appointed in a 2025 special election that included all voters in her district. She’s focused on roads and traffic; water, energy and data centers; cost of living; and protecting children.
We’ve met with Ms. Buss and found her to be intelligent and deeply committed to good representation. She tries to look at issues or solutions on their own merits, then consult with her constituents rather than promoting a party position. As the state’s only third-party legislator, we think her voice is worth preserving. (Interestingly, a BYU political science professor calculated her “ideology” score as genuinely moderate.)
Brooks Benson (R) is a local business owner with a background in behavioral science and operations. We have found Mr. Benson to be charismatic and kind. As a brand-new candidate, he won on the first round of votes in convention—in part because of his ultraconservative view.
We note he received donations from data center developer DAI Managers and is supported by “Make Liberty Win,” a far-right group funded by “Young Americans for Liberty.” We expect him to toe the party line in the Senate—and we’re hoping for change.
Read their Tribune responses.
Senate District 19 | Southwest corner of Salt Lake County, including Sandy, Draper, and Alta
We recommend Shana Anderson (D). Ms. Anderson is a mom and Army vet who later studied economics and education. She is focused on accountability, protecting homeownership, restoring the great Salt Lake, no gondola in the canyons, public education, and more. Several members met Shana and were impressed by her background and advocacy for educators.
We have concerns about incumbent Kirk Cullimore’s legislative record. Mr. Cullimore is an attorney, music teacher, small business owner. and legislator since 2018. He is running on education—although we note he has voted to cut $1.4 billion from public education during his time in office—along with tax cuts, families, business and safe communities.
If he wins in November, Mr. Cullimore is in the running to be Utah’s next Senate president. Notably, a Network member actually ran into eviction notices from Cullimore’s law firm while knocking doors last year.
Read their Tribune responses.
Senate District 21 | Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, Lindon, Pleasant Grove
We recommend either Wayne Woodfield (Forward Party) or Kandee Myers (Democrat), depending on your policy preferences. Both Mr. Woodfield and Ms. Myers represent needed change from the incumbent. Strategically—looking at historical trends in the area—we believe Mr. Woodfield likely has the better shot in this race.
Mr. Woodfield is a Utah County native and software engineer who lives in Lehi. He is running against extremism and for integrity, civility, transparency, and good governance—which includes prioritizing affordable housing, water stewardship, education, economic opportunity, and government reform (among others).
Ms. Myers is a longtime resident of the area with a background in real estate who is prioritizing homeownership, education, and healthcare. She is endorsed by the National Education Association and Elevate Utah.
The incumbent, Brady Brammer, is an attorney and business owner first elected to the House during a special election in 2019. During the primary, he ran on protecting the caucus system, limited federal government, and family values. To repeat some of our concerns from the primary: we’re concerned about many of the decisions he has been involved in. That includes cutting $1.4 billion from Utah’s public schools, consistently bypassing local controls, elevating partisanship, and undermining judicial independence. He’s endorsed by ultraconservative groups including Utah Parents United and Americans for Prosperity. On a personal note, we’ve often heard Mr. Brammer talk down to constituents concerned about his bills (particularly teachers). See more about Mr. Brammer’s record.
Read the candidates’ Tribune responses.
Senate District 23 | Pleasant Grove, Vineyard, Orem, Provo
We recommend Tucker Smith (D) for this race. Mr. Smith is a public school teacher and advocate. He is running for fairness, access, and opportunity—including funding education, protecting healthcare, defending rights, and fixing housing. Network members have had good experiences talking with Mr. Smith, finding him responsive and well-informed on multiple issues.
Keith Grover is the incument in this race. Mr. Grover is running on fiscal responsibility, personal liberty, and accountability. Of note to many in the new Timpanogos School District, Senator Grover sponsored the bill that did not allow Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove, and Vineyard to vote on the Alpine School District split several years ago. Over the years, we’ve found him consistently condescending and unwilling to listen on issues we find important.
Read their Tribune guide and more about Mr. Grover.
Happy voting!
