Those arenas are a "nice farm system for developing the nation's next generation of leaders," said Kelly Patterson, director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University.

"The ambitious [students], the ones that want to go into higher office at some point realize that they have to start early."

Utah gubernatorial candidates Jon Huntsman Jr. and Scott Matheson Jr. both started in high-profile political positions.

Matheson, at age 23, managed his father's successful bid for Utah governor in 1976. Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant during the Reagan administration.

In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Rob Bishop worked in college as an intern in the Utah House of Representatives. His opponent, Democrat Steve Thompson, was a student body president at Utah State University.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson worked on his father's 1976 campaign. His Republican challenger, John Swallow, was active in high school, serving as president of the Nevada Governor's Youth Traffic Safety Association.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Rep. Chris Cannon was active in College Republicans at BYU. His opponent, Democrat Beau Babka, served as senior class treasurer in high school.

In Utah's U.S. Senate race, Sen. Bob Bennett was student president at the University of Utah. His Democratic opponent, Paul Van Dam, was active as a member of an ironworkers union.