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2026 Utah Senate election

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2026 Utah Senate election

 2024
November 3, 2026
2028 

15 of the 29 seats in the Utah Senate
15 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Stuart Adams
(lost re-nomination)
Luz Escamilla Emily Buss
Party Republican Democratic Forward
Leader's seat 7th–Salt Lake 10th–Salt Lake 11th–West Valley
Last election 23 seats; 68.0% 6 seats; 22.8% 0 seats; 0.0%
Current seats 22 6 1
Seats needed Steady Increase 9 Increase 14
Seats up 10 4 1

Map of incumbents:
     Republican incumbent      Democratic incumbent
     Utah Forward incumbent      No election

Incumbent Senate President

Stuart Adams
Republican



The 2026 Utah Senate election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, as part of the 2026 United States elections. Fifteen of the twenty-nine seats in the Utah Senate are up for election to the 67th Legislature. The elections will coincide with elections for other offices in Utah, including for U.S. House and the state house. Newly-elected senators will take office on January 1, 2027.[1]

The Republicans currently hold a supermajority in the chamber, controlling twenty-two of the twenty-nine seats. The Democrats hold the second-most seats with six, and the Utah Forward has held one seat since Senator Daniel Thatcher from Salt Lake County switched from the Republican Party during the 2025 legislative session. Thatcher is the first third-party state senator in Utah since Republican senator Mark B. Madsen switched to the Libertarian Party in 2016.[2] Thatcher announced his resignation in October 2025, with the Utah Forward Party electing Emily Buss to fill his seat.[3][4]

Districts 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 28 will be up for election in 2026.

Retirements

[edit]

Republicans

[edit]
  1. District 5: Ann Millner is retiring.[5]
  2. District 6: Jerry Stevenson is retiring.[5]

Democrats

[edit]
  1. District 13: Nate Blouin is retiring to run for Congress in Utah's 1st congressional district.[5]

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[6] Safe R January 22, 2026

Partisan background

[edit]

In the 2024 presidential election in Utah, the Republican nominee Donald Trump won twenty-two state senate districts, while the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris won seven districts.

2024 presidential results by House district
2024 Presidential results by Senate district:
  Trump
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Harris
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

By seat

[edit]

This table lists which presidential candidate won each district in 2024 that is up for election in 2026.[7]

District County(ies) represented Incumbent 2024 Pres. margin
District 1 Box Elder, Cache, Tooele Scott Sandall (R) R+54.8
District 5 Davis, Morgan, Weber Ann Millner (R) R+11.8
District 6 Davis Jerry Stevenson (R) R+33.9
District 7 Salt Lake J. Stuart Adams (R) R+25.2
District 9 Salt Lake Jen Plumb (D) D+56.7
District 11 Salt Lake, Tooele Emily Buss (FWD) R+34.9
District 12 Salt Lake Karen Kwan (D) D+6.4
District 13 Salt Lake Nate Blouin (D) D+39.0
District 14 Salt Lake Stephanie Pitcher (D) D+31.6
District 18 Salt Lake, Utah Daniel McCay (R) R+30.6
District 19 Salt Lake Kirk Cullimore Jr. (R) R+8.9
District 20 Daggett, Duchesne, Summit, Uintah, Wasatch Ronald Winterton (R) R+35.2
District 21 Utah Brady Brammer (R) R+42.6
District 23 Utah Keith Grover (R) R+31.0
District 28 Beaver, Iron, Washington Evan Vickers (R) R+58.5

Summary

[edit]
Summary of the 2026 Utah Senate election results
Party Candidates Votes % Seats
Before
66th Leg.
Up Won After
67th Leg.
+/–
Republican 14 % 22 10 Steady
Democratic 13 % 6 4 Steady
Forward 7 % 1 1 Steady
Constitution 1 % 0 0 Steady
Total 100.0% 29 15 29 Steady

District 1

[edit]
District 1 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Scott Sandall (incumbent) Claudia Bigler
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Scott Sandall
Republican



Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]

Out at convention

[edit]

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • Claudia Bigler[8]

Forward nominee

[edit]
  • Julie Quinlan[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 1 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Sandall (incumbent)
Democratic Claudia Bigler
Forward Julie Quinlan

District 5

[edit]
District 5 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Jill Koford Christina Hernandez
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Ann Millner
Republican



Republican nominee

[edit]
  • Jill Koford, state representative from the 10th district (2025–present)[8]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]
  • Christina Hernandez[8]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Dakota Wurth[8]

Endorsements

[edit]
Dakota Wurth
Organizations

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 5 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christina Hernandez
Republican Jill Koford

District 6

[edit]
District 6 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Tami Tran Jared Neal
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Jerry Stevenson
Republican



Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]

Eliminated in primary

[edit]
  • Robert Wanlass[8]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Tami
Tran
Robert
Wanlass
Undecided
State Navigate/Doers Network[10] June 4–7, 2026 326 (LV) ± 5.4% 56%[b] 20% 24%
50% 18% 32%
State Navigate/Doers Network[11] April 10–12, 2026 401 (LV) ± 5.1% 28%[b] 12% 60%
23% 7% 71%

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 6 Republican primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tami Tran 8,245 70.61
Republican Robert Wanlass 3,431 29.39

Democratic nominee

[edit]

Forward nominee

[edit]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 6 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tami Tran
Democratic Jared Neal
Forward Josh Smith

District 7

[edit]
District 7 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Stephanie Hollist Garret Rushforth
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Stuart Adams
Republican



Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]
  • Stephanie Hollist[8]

Eliminated in primary

[edit]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Jennifer Garner[8]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 7 Republican primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Hollist 7,688 43.10
Republican Stuart Adams (incumbent) 6,088 34.13
Republican Braden Hess 4,063 22.78

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • Garret Rushforth[8]

Constitution nominee

[edit]
  • Jeffrey Ostler[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 7 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Hollist
Democratic Garret Rushforth
Constitution Jeffrey Ostler


District 9

[edit]
District 9 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Jen Plumb (incumbent) Thaddeus A. Evans
Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Senator

Jen Plumb
Democratic



Democratic nominee

[edit]

Republican nominee

[edit]
  • Thaddeus A. Evans[8]

Forward nominee

[edit]
  • J. Lowry Snow[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 9 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jen Plumb
Republican Thaddeus A. Evans
Forward J. Lowry Snow

District 11

[edit]
District 11 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Emily Buss Brooks Benson MacKenzie Miller
Party Forward Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Emily Buss
Forward



Forward nominee

[edit]

Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]
  • Brooks Benson[8]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • John Knotwell, former state representative from the 52nd district (2013–2019)[8]
  • Chris Sloan[8]

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • MacKenzie Miller[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 11 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Forward Emily Buss (incumbent)
Republican Brooks Benson
Democratic MacKenzie Miller

District 12

[edit]
District 12 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Karen Kwan (incumbent) Deidre Tyler
Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Senator

Karen Kwan
Democratic



Democratic nominee

[edit]

Republican nominee

[edit]
  • Deidre Tyler[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 12 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Kwan
Republican Deidre Tyler

District 13

[edit]
District 13 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Silvia Catten Ryan L. Mahoney
Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Senator

Nate Blouin
Democratic



Democratic primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]
  • Silvia Catten[8]

Eliminated in primary

[edit]
  • Evan Done[8]
  • Taylor J. Paden[8]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Richard T. Whitney[8]

Declined

[edit]

Endorsements

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 13 Democratic primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Silvia Catten 3,924 44.13
Democratic Evan Done 2,921 32.85
Democratic Taylor J. Paden 2,047 23.02

Republican nominee

[edit]
  • Ryan L. Mahoney[8]

Forward nominee

[edit]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 13 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Silvia Catten
Republican Ryan L. Mahoney
Forward Colin Smith

District 14

[edit]
District 14 Democratic primary election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Stephanie Pitcher Tyler Khater
Party Democratic Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Stephanie Pitcher
Democratic



Democratic primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Tayler Khater[8]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 14 Democratic primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephanie Pitcher (incumbent) 10,070 77.61
Democratic Tayler Khater 2,905 22.39

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 14 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephanie Pitcher (incumbent)

District 18

[edit]
District 18 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Doug Fiefia A. Dane Anderson
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Daniel McCay
Republican



Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]
  • Doug Fiefia, state representative from the 48th district (2025–present)

Eliminated in primary

[edit]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Tracie Halvorsen

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Doug
Fiefia
Daniel
McCay
Undecided
State Navigate/Doers Network[14] June 11–14, 2026 366 (LV) ± 5.1% 63%[b] 22% 14%
62% 20% 18%
State Navigate/Doers Network[15] May 5–7, 2026 497 (LV) ± 4.4% 39%[b] 21% 40%
33% 16% 51%

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 18 Republican primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Fiefia 6,986 69.51
Republican Daniel McCay (incumbent) 3,064 30.49

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • A. Dane Anderson[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 18 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Fiefia
Democratic A. Dane Anderson

District 19

[edit]
District 19 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Kirk Cullimore Jr. Shana Anderson
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Kirk Cullimore Jr.
Republican



Republican nominee

[edit]

Democratic primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]

Out at convention

[edit]
  • Salvador Giove[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 19 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kirk Cullimore Jr. (incumbent)
Democratic Shana Anderson

District 20

[edit]
District 20 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Ronald Winterton Annette McRae
Party Republican Forward

Incumbent Senator

Ronald Winterton
Republican



Republican nominee

[edit]

Forward nominee

[edit]
  • Annette McRae[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 20 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ronald Winterton (incumbent)
Forward Annette McRae


District 21

[edit]
District 21 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Brady Brammer Kandee Myers
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Brady Brammer
Republican



Republican primary

[edit]

Nominee

[edit]

Eliminated in primary

[edit]

Withdrawn

[edit]
  • Seth Stewart[8]

Polling

[edit]
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Brady
Brammer
Kelly
Smith
Undecided
State Navigate/Doers Network[17] June 11–14, 2026 374 (LV) ± 5.1% 37%[b] 44% 20%
36% 41% 23%
State Navigate/Doers Network[18] May 5–7, 2026 781 (LV) ± 3.5% 21%[b] 18% 59%
17% 15% 68%

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 21 Republican primary, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brady Brammer (incumbent) 7,947 56.85
Republican Kelly Smith 6,033 43.15

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • Kandee Myers[8]

Forward nominee

[edit]
  • Wayne Woodfield[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 21 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brady Brammer (incumbent)
Democratic Kandee Myers
Forward Wayne Woodfield

District 23

[edit]
District 23 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Keith Grover Tucker Smith
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Keith Grover
Republican



Republican nominee

[edit]

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • Tucker Smith[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 23 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Grover (incumbent)
Democratic Tucker Smith


District 28

[edit]
District 28 election

 2022
2030 
 
Nominee Evan Vickers Richard S. Robillard
Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator

Evan Vickers
Republican



Republican nominee

[edit]

Democratic nominee

[edit]
  • Richard S. Robillard[8]

General election

[edit]

Results

[edit]
Utah Senate district 28 election, 2026
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Evan Vickers (incumbent)
Democratic Richard S. Robillard

Notes

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 With voters who lean towards a given candidate

References

[edit]
  1. "Utah State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  2. Gehrke, Robert (March 7, 2025). "Sen. Dan Thatcher is leaving Utah's Republican Party to 'break the deadlock' in politics". Salt Lake City Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  3. Gehrke, Robert. "'No matter the cost': Sen. Daniel Thatcher, a thorn for Republican leaders, to resign from the Utah Legislature". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  4. Beal-Cvetko, Bridger (December 12, 2025). "Emily Buss wins preference poll to replace state Sen. Daniel Thatcher of the Forward Party". www.ksl.com. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Anderson Stern, Emily; Baird, Addy; Gehrke, Robert (January 14, 2026). "13 Utah lawmakers won't seek reelection in 2026 — but nearly every open seat is contested". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  6. Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  7. "Utah - State Navigate". State Navigate. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 "2026 Candidate Filings". Vote.Utah.Gov. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses 57 new candidates in April for 2026 campaigns". LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. April 30, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  10. "Utah Senate District 6 Republican Primary — June Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  11. "Utah Senate District 6 Republican Primary — April Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  12. "Endorsements". Advocates for Trans Equality. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Kaiser, Adam (June 16, 2026). "LIVE BLOG: LEWIS GEORGE WINS MAYOR RACE". Democratic Left. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  14. "Utah Senate District 18 Republican Primary — June Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  15. "Utah Senate District 18 Republican Primary — May Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  16. "Meet Shana". Anderson for State Senate 19. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  17. "Utah Senate District 21 Republican Primary — June Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  18. "Utah Senate District 21 Republican Primary — May Poll Briefing" (PDF). State Navigate. June 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.