Candidate Filings, Who is Running for Office in 2024?

Dear Friends, 

The 2024 Candidate Filing Deadline was moved to January 8th, before the legislative session commences on January 16th. We now have  exciting announcements about Utah politics.
 
Lawmakers not seeking Reelection:
-Susan Pulsifer (South Jordan) - Rich Cunningham, former legislator known as the “Honey Badger”, is running for this seat
-Marsha Judkins (Provo) - running for Michelle Kaufusi’s seat as Provo Mayor
-Robert Spendlove (Sandy) - this renowned economist has been serving in the Legislature since 2015, and will be missed
-Dan Johnson (Logan) - two Republican candidates have filed for his seat
-Phil Lyman (San Juan) - will be running for Governor
-Jay Cobb (South Jordan) - served one term representing District 48
-Gregg Buxton (Weber County)- Senator Buxton decided to retire and Rep. Cal Mussleman will be running for this seat, thus leaving his house seat open
-Brian King, Democrat Representative from Salt Lake City, is running for Governor

Multiple incumbent lawmakers are facing inter-and intra-party challengers. Of interest are the following:

Elected in 2000, Curtis Bramble (Utah County) is an established force on Capitol Hill and led the National Conference of State Legislators. But Bramble has attracted formidable opposition within the GOP, including former lawmaker Brad Daw and current House member Keven Stratton. Politicos were surprised when former Sen. Dan Hemmert jumped into the race. Hemmert is former director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, a successful business leader, and became one of Utah’s top contract lobbyists. 

Recently appointed Hiedi Balderree for Senate seat 22 will face Emily Lockhart, daughter of former House Speaker Becky Lockhart in the election to fill the term.

Other developments include:
State Treasurer Marlo Oaks faces one Democrat challenger, Neil Hansen, the former state rep from Ogden who has run for treasurer, governor, and Ogden mayor.

Candidates in line for the office of State Auditor currently held by John Dougall are Republicans Ricky Hatch, Weber County clerk, and Tina Cannon. Chatherine Voutaz is the Democrat challenger.

Sen. Thatcher is running for Salt Lake County Council but will not have to give up his Senate Seat unless he wins.

Shake up on the Federal Races:
Announced running for Romney’s U.S. Senate Seat -

-Brad Wilson, Republican, resigned his position as Utah’s Speaker of the House to run for the Senate in September 
-Rep. John Curtis, Republican, the current representative of Utah's 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
-Brent Orrin Hatch, Republican,the son of the late Sen. Orrin Hatch,  attorney and  former associate White House counsel to President George Bush (41)  and a law clerk to Judge Robert H. Bork.
-Carolyn Gleich, Democrat
-Carolyn Phippen, Republican, current director of Freedom Front of Utah, and former legislative staff
-Trent Staggs, Republican and current mayor of Riverton
-Archie A Williams III, Democrat, former Orem City Council candidate.

Celeste Maloy will be back on the ballot to defend her seat in U.S. House District 2. Her opponents include:
-Ty Jansen, Republican who ran against Lee in 2022
-Colby Jenkins, Republican and former counterterrorism policy advisor to the Secretary of Defence
-Brian Adams, Democrat
 

Running for John Curtis’ seat for U.S. House District 3:
State Sen. Mike Kennedy, who won the 2018 convention against Mitt Romney for nomination to the U.S. Senate, is midterm and therefore enjoys the flexibility to run.
-Rod Bird Jr., Republican, the mayor of Roosevelt
-Kathryn W. Dahlin, Republican, is a former legislative aide in the U.S. Senate, and Republican state delegate
-John Dougall, Republican, has served as the state auditor since 2013 and for 10 years prior was a state representative
-Chris Herrod, Republican, notable for several runs against Curtis. He has won two State Republican convention nominations, but has not overtaken Curtis in the primary
-Clayton B. Hunsaker, Republican
-Case Lawrence, Republican, former CEO of Circus Trix
-Stewart Peay, Republican, former candidate for State GOP Chair, and a military veteran
-Glenn J. Wright, Democrat

Governor;s Race:

-Gov. Spencer Cox, Republican, seeking a second term and was sworn in as governor of Utah in 2021
-Carson Jorgensen, Republican, is a former state Republican Party chairman and congressional candidate
-Brian Smith King, Democrat, is a former Utah House minority leader and eight-term lawmaker
-Phil Lyman, Republican, is a state representative from Blanding
Scott Robbins, Republican

Attorney General's Race:
This is an open seat as AG Reyes will not be seeking reelection. Most notable candidate for this seat is Derek Brown, Republican, is an attorney, former Utah GOP chairman, former state lawmaker and congressional staffer.
Other Republican candidates include State Risk Manager Rachel Terry, Frank Mylar, and Trent Christrensen. Democrat challengers are David Calrson, and Rudy Bautista.

Lawmakers having notice of filed opponents during the session will be a new dynamic In Utah politics.Veteran observers will be watching to determine the impact on deliberations and policies.