When Salt Lake County Democrats pack into Highland High for their nominating convention on Saturday morning, they’ll decide who advances to the primary election or the November ballot—and who goes home early. There are a handful of legislative races worth keeping your eye on.
Today is the deadline for Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress to submit signatures to qualify for the primary ballot (4/10/2026)
15 days - Utah State Republican and Democratic State Party nominating conventions (4/25/2026)
74 days - Utah's 2026 primary election (6/23/2026)
207 days - 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026)
942 days - 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028)
Candidates either qualified for the June primary by collecting signatures. If nobody wins 55% of the delegate vote, the top-two vote-getters advance to the primary.
Utah Political Watch’s 2026 race ratings give each district two ratings. The Likely Outcome (“Safe D/R,” “Lean,” “Likely,” and “Toss-up”) reflects the traditional two-party vote. The Utah Competitiveness Index (UCI) compares each district to the statewide Republican baseline of 64.5%.
SD13
Two of the four Democrats running to replace Sen. Nate Blouin in Senate District 13—Silvia Catten and Taylor Paden—already qualified for the primary by signature. Richard Whitney and Evan Done hope to join them on the ballot.
The nomination fight is likely the whole ballgame. SD13 is one of the bluest districts in Utah—rated Safe D with a UCI of D+29.7—there’s no plausible path for a Republican to win. In 2024, Kamala Harris carried the district 70-30%.
SD14
SD14 is already set: incumbent Stephanie Pitcher and challenger Tyler Khater both qualified for the primary by the signature path. The primary decides November’s winner as there are no other candidates in the race.
HD21
None of the five Democrats running to succeed Sandra Hollins in House District 21 qualified by signature. That makes Saturday’s convention everything. The nominee will be unopposed in November.
HD26: A true toss-up on the line
In HD26, Darrell Curtis fell short of the 1,000 signatures needed and faces Michael Finch with the nomination, or a primary election, on the line. The winner faces Republican incumbent Matt MacPherson and Forward Party nominee Travis Alico.
HD26 is one of the cycle’s few toss-up contests, according to Utah Political Watch’s 2026 ratings. Trump carried the district in 2024 by a 53-47% margin.
HD34
In HD34, Erin Jemison qualified by signatures and can’t be eliminated Saturday. Not so for Julie Jackson, who needs delegate support to advance. The nominee will be unopposed in November. Incumbent Rep. Carol Spackman Moss is retiring.
HD39
HD39 features a three-way fight among Drew Howells, Sarah Brough and Kevin Seal.
Come fall, HD39 could be competitive. The seat is rated Lean R with a UCI of D+4.2, meaning it’s significantly more Democratic than the typical Utah district when compared to the statewide Republican baseline of 64.5%.
HD40 and HD41: Incumbents on the ropes
Two Democratic incumbents—Andrew Stoddard (HD40) and John Arthur (HD41)—missed qualifying for the primary through the signature path and now need delegates to survive.
Wendy Davis, who is challenging Stoddard for the nomination in HD40, has already qualified for the primary via signatures. If she gets 55% on Saturday, Stoddard is out of the race.
HD40 and HD41 are more than likely to send the eventual winner of the Democratic nomination to the legislature in November. Both seats are rated “Likely D” on the Utah Political Watch race ratings.
HD36: Vacancy shuffle
HD36’s Democratic candidate dropped out of the race after filing, so the county party’s central committee will pick a replacement on Saturday. The district is Lean R with a UCI of R+5.0, meaning it has the potential of being competitive in November.
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