The lead private developer tied to the Military Installation Development Authority’s (MIDA) Deer Valley Resort expansion has given more than $60,000 to Republican legislators, candidates and campaign committees since the start of October. Most of the money went to Senate leaders and to lawmakers whose districts include MIDA projects.
Gershon “Gary” Barnett runs Extell Development, the main private partner in MIDA’s Military Recreation Facility Project Area. Barnett and his wife, Ayala, gave $55,500 to 11 Republican Senate incumbents and candidates and one Republican House incumbent. They also gave $5,000 to the Utah Republican Senate Campaign Committee, a political action committee (PAC) that distributes money to GOP Senate candidates.
Extell is involved only in MIDA’s Deer Valley development, but nearly all of the money went to Senate leadership or to lawmakers with a MIDA project in their districts.The largest donation, $10,000 on Oct. 6, went to Sen. Kirk Cullimore, the Senate majority leader and a leading candidate to succeed Stuart Adams as Senate president. Cullimore also received $15,000 from Barnett in 2025 and $10,000 in 2024.
Adams lost his bid for another Senate term in June, when Stephanie Hollist beat him in the GOP primary. He still sits on MIDA’s board.
The rest of the Senate GOP leadership team, Majority Whip Chris Wilson and Assistant Majority Whip Mike McKell, each received $5,000.
Most of the remaining money went to Republicans who represent, or are running to represent, districts that contain a MIDA project:
- Sen. Scott Sandall received $5,000. The proposed Stratos Data Center in Box Elder County lies within his Senate District 1.
- Rep. Thomas Peterson received $5,000. The Stratos site is also in his House District 1.
- Rep. Jill Koford received $4,000 on Oct. 8. She is running to succeed Sen. Ann Millner in Senate District 5, home to MIDA’s Falcon Hill Project Area.
- Brooks Benson received $4,000 on Oct. 17. The Republican is challenging Forward Party incumbent Emily Buss in Senate District 11, which includes the Dugway Proving Ground and Tooele Army Depot project areas.
- Rep. Doug Fiefia, the GOP nominee in Senate District 18, received $5,000 on Oct. 20. The district includes MIDA’s Utah Data Center Project housed at Camp Williams.
- Sen. Ron Winterton received $5,000 on Oct. 14. His Senate District 20 contains the Military Recreation Facility Project Area, which includes the Deer Valley resort.
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Only two of the October donations went to candidates outside MIDA districts: $5,000 to Sen. Keith Grover (SD 23) and $4,000 to Republican Tamara Tran. Tran (SD6) is running to replace Sen. Jerry Stevenson, who is retiring. Stevenson, like Adams, sits on MIDA’s board.
Since 2024, Barnett has donated $508,500 to Republican officials, candidates and PACs.
Gov. Spencer Cox’s campaign is the largest recipient, with $125,000 across five donations. Barnett also gave Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson $10,000 in 2025.
Adams and his leadership PAC received $64,000 over that period, including two $25,000 gifts this year for his unsuccessful re-election bid. Barnett also gave $31,000 to House Speaker Mike Schultz’s leadership PAC, $41,000 to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee PAC and $16,000 to the House Republican Election Committee PAC.
