Utah's 2026 midterm elections by the numbers

Candidate filing for the 2026 midterms wrapped up on Thursday. Here’s the scoreboard as of Friday morning–who's running, the open seats and no-shows, and the candidate who is suing their opponent.

284

Total candidates filed for 15 Utah Senate seats and 75 Utah House seats.

• 145 Republican candidates (25 Senate, 120 House)
• 109 Democratic candidates (20 Senate, 89 House)
• 21 Forward Party candidates (7 Senate, 14 House)
• 7 Constitution Party candidates (6 Senate, 1 House)
• 2 One Libertarian and one unaffiliated candidate, both in House races

93%

Senate districts with at least one Republican or Democrat on the ballot.

• Only one Senate race lacks a Republican: SD14, held by Democrat Stephanie Pitcher.
• Democrats fielded in all but SD20, where Republican Ron Winterton is the incumbent.

3

House races without a Republican candidate

GOP candidates filed to run in 72 of 75 contests (96%).

• HD21 - Open seat (Democrat Sandra Hollins is retiring)
• HD34 - Open seat (Democrat Carol Spackman Moss is retiring after 26 years)
• HD40 - Held by Democrat Andrew Stoddard.

8

House races without a Democratic candidate

Democrats are fielding candidates in 67 of 75 races (89%). There are no Democrats running in eight races:

• HD3 - Held by Republican Jason Thompson
• HD6 - Open seat (Republican Matt Gwynn is not running for re-election)
• HD19 - Republican Raymond Ward is the incumbent.
• HD38 - Open seat (Republican Cheryl Acton did not file to run for another term)
• HD60 - Open seat (Republican Tyler Clancy is not running for re-election)
• HD64 - Currently held by Republican Jefferson Burton
• HD65 - Republican Doug Welton is the incumbent.
• HD68 - Held by Republican Scott Chew.

14

Incumbents not seeking another term

• SD5 - Republican Ann Millner
• SD6 - Republican Jerry Stevenson
• SD13 - Democrat Nate Blouin
• HD6 - Republican Matt Gwynn
• HD13 - Republican Karen Peterson
• HD14 - Republican Karianne Lisonbee
• HD17 - Republican Stewart Barlow
• HD21 - Democrat Sandra Hollins
• HD29 - Republican Bridger Bolinder
• HD34 - Democrat Carol Spackman Moss
• HD38 - Republican Cheryl Acton
• HD59 - Republican Mike Kohler
• HD60 - Republican Tyler Clancy
• HD67 - Republican Christine Watkins

4

Open seats created by incumbents seeking other offices

• SD13 - Democrat Nate Blouin is running for Congress.
• HD10 - Republican Jill Koford is running for SD5
• HD48 - Republican Doug Fiefia is challenging Republican Dan McCay in SD18
• HD67 - Republican Christine Watkins is running for the Carbon County Commission

3

Candidates running unopposed

• Republican Rep. Ray Ward (HD19)
• Republican Rep. Mark Strong (HD47)
• GOP Republican Doug Welton (HD65)

5

Races likely decided at convention or in a primary

• SD14 - Democrat Stephanie Pitcher faces Tayler Khater for the nomination. Both candidates plan to gather signatures, so it could go to a primary.
• HD21 - Six Democrats are running to replace Sandra Hollins; several are gathering signatures.
• HD34 - Democrats Julie Jackson and Erin Jemison are the only candidates who have declared. Both are collecting signatures.
• HD60 - Three Republican candidates are vying to succeed Tyler Clancy; two are collecting signatures, likely forcing a primary.
• HD64 - Republican Jefferson Burton faces two challengers for the GOP nomination. None of them are gathering signatures, so this race will be decided at convention as there are no other candidates in the race.

1

Candidate suing an opponent

Tracy Halvorsen filed to challenge Sen. Dan McCay for the GOP nomination in SD18. McCay is also a defendant in a sweeping federal lawsuit brought by Halvorsen and others, alleging election fraud by multiple state officials. The suit asks a judge to remove Gov. Spencer Cox, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, Sen. John Curtis, and Attorney General Derek Brown from office and install convention delegate winners Phil Lyman, Natalie Clawson, Trent Staggs, and Frank Mylar instead.