An updated look inside the races to watch in Utah’s 2024 election season

This story has been updated after the filing period closed.

Now that candidates have filed for federal and state races, Utah has some pretty interesting races shaking out.

A rare open Senate seat has, of course, attracted a lot of interest. When filing closed, there were eleven Republicans, three Democrats, including outdoor influencer Caroline Gleich, and two candidates from the Independent American party. Heavy hitters in the Senate race include current Congressman John Curtis and former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, as well as Mayor Trent Staggs, and Brent Orrin Hatch, the son of the late Sen. Orrin Hatch.

With Curtis in the Senate race, that leaves an open seat in the Utah’s Third Congressional District, and that race is crowded as well. State Sen. Mike Kennedy has announced he is running, as well as Roosevelt Mayor Rod Bird, Jr., former Utah County Republican Party chair Stewart Peay, current state auditor, John Dougall and perennial candidate Chris Herrod. There are ten Republicans and one Democrat in that race.

Utah’s state races to watch

Curt Bramble has 3 Republican challengers

Former Rep. Brad Daw was the first to file against longtime incumbent Curt Bramble in the Republican primary for Senate District 24. Daw was in the Utah House from 2004 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2021 and Bramble has been in the Utah Senate since 2001. Daw’s campaign website says one of his key issues is mental health. Earlier this year, he wrote an op-ed for the Salt Lake Tribune in support of legalizing psilocybin.

Next, former Utah Sen. Dan Hemmert filed to run. Hemmert previously represented the northern part of Utah County, but lives in Orem. Following redistricting, he now lives in SD 24.

Finally, current Rep. Keven Stratton has also filed for the same Senate seat. He told the Provo Daily Herald that his belief in the principle of term limits led to the decision that he should conclude his time in the Utah House.

Sen. Bramble said he looks forward to making the case for reelection based on his legislative record. A tax accountant by profession, Bramble is currently the chair of the Senate Business and Labor committee and the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

All four candidates have declared their intent to collect signatures.

Jeanetta Williams vs. Matt MacPherson

Utah NAACP President Jeanetta Williams has filed to run for Utah House District 26, that covers part of West Valley City and Magna. Williams, a Democrat who has been president of the local NAACP chapter for 30 years, is challenging Rep. Matt MacPherson, who was picked by 22 GOP delegates in October to replace Rep. Quinn Kotter, a Republican who stepped down during his first term.

Williams said she is running now “because the people of the west side deserve an advocate on the hill who will put their interests, not a partisan agenda, first.” Kotter first won the seat by fewer than 150 votes in 2022.

Daniela Harding vs. Trevor Lee

In House District 16, Rep. Trevor Lee is facing a primary challenge from Daniela Harding. Harding was the previous chair of the Davis County Republican Party and just ran the campaign for the newly elected mayor of Ogden, Ben Nadolski.

Lee, who defeated Republican incumbent Steve Handy in the 2022 cycle, has had his share of controversy. This cycle, he is supporting a bill to end universal mail-in voting and last session, voted for a bill that would disqualify a candidate who gathers signatures if a convention candidate got 70% at convention. However, he has declared his intent to gather signatures to get on the ballot in 2024, as has Harding.

John Johnson vs. Stacy Bernal

Stacy Bernal, the diversity, equity and inclusion manager for the Utah Jazz and a current member of the Ogden School Board, is running as a Democrat for Utah Senate District 3. Bernal will be running against Republican incumbent Sen. John Johnson. Johnson has been an outspoken opponent of DEI programs and critical race theory. He is the current chair of the Senate Education committee.

Other races of interest:

In the now open seat for House District 58, the seat currently held by Rep. Keven Stratton, four candidates have filed to run. They are Holly Sweeten, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens; Dave Shallenberger, a local business owner; Angela Moulton; and Democratic candidate Joshua Sorensen. Sweeten, Shallenberger and Moulton plan to gather signatures.

Former Rep. Fred Cox is running as a Republican in the open seat for House District 30. He served in the House in 2011-2012 and from 2015-2016. Current Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner (also a Republican) is running for the Senate. There are three Republicans and two Democrats in that race.

Once a longtime member of the Utah Republican Party, Michelle Quist is running for Utah Attorney General on the United Utah Party ticket. She is the former dean of admissions at BYU Law School and is currently of counsel at Holland and Hart.

Former Rep. Chad Bennion has filed to run against Republican Sen. Don Ipson, in Senate District 29. Ipson also faces an intra-party challenge from Cory Green and a general election challenge from Democrat Deidra Ritchhart.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy