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As U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy wraps up his first term in Congress, his GOP challengers have raised $0

An unaffiliated candidate has raised the second-highest amount of money in the race for Utah’s new 4th Congressional District.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy speaks at an event sponsored by Utah College Republicans at the University of Utah, on Friday, April 10, 2026.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy speaks at an event sponsored by Utah College Republicans at the University of Utah, on Friday, April 10, 2026.

A week ahead of the Utah Republican Party’s nominating convention, incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy, appears to have no competition among GOP challengers in the new 4th Congressional District — when it comes to bank accounts, anyway.

The congressman has raised over $800,000 so far this election cycle and more than a quarter of a million dollars so far this year, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

None of the five Republican candidates who signed up to compete against Kennedy — Isaiah Hardman, Scott Hatfield, Tyrone Jensen, Pasitale Lupeamanu and Seth Stewart — have reported receiving any donations in the race.

And among the four candidates that could appear next to Kennedy on the general election ballot in November, only two — Democrat Jonny Larsen and unaffiliated candidate Steven Burt — have raised money toward their campaigns.

Kennedy has raised nearly 30 times the amount collected by Burt, the second-highest fundraiser in the race.

Burt’s campaign has reported raising $26,904 — although that includes a $5,639 in-kind donation of his own legal services.

The unaffiliated candidate has also pledged not to accept money from political action committees.

Larsen’s campaign says it has collected $19,411.69 — although he loaned himself approximately two-thirds of his funds. Donors gave $6,385.15 to Larsen.

Most of the freshman congressman’s money comes from industry groups, and the most prominent among them are those in health care. Kennedy worked as a doctor before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2026 alone, Kennedy has received approximately $50,000 from medical provider professional associations, as well as political action committees affiliated with health insurance companies and hospitals.

And from energy to real estate, the sitting member of Congress has received tens of thousands from over a dozen other industry groups, PACs belonging to specific companies and leaders of large corporations.

Among them is Elon Musk’s aerospace and artificial intelligence company SpaceX.

A former member of the Utah Legislature, Kennedy’s financial backing in 2026 has also come from a handful of Republican state lawmakers. And fellow Republican members of Congress have donated to Kennedy’s campaign this year, too, including U.S. Rep. Blake Moore.

But while Kennedy has given money to the campaigns of some of his congressional colleagues during that same period, he has not donated to Moore or the other incumbent running for reelection in Utah, Rep. Celeste Maloy.

In January, Kennedy donated $1,200 from his coffers to local anti-abortion activist organization Pro-Life Utah.

Note to readers, April 22, 4:30 p.m. •This story has been updated to add additional as to the amount of money candidates raised versus the amount they loaned themselves.

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