Former Weber State University President Ann Millner, an Ogden Republican, has served in the Utah Senate for over a decade. As she retires, two Democrats are competing for their party’s backing to replace her.

CJ Hernandez recently left a career in the State Department, and Dakota Wurth is a Clearfield City Council member who works for Davis County.

After Wurth qualified for the Senate District 5 primary ballot by collecting signatures, Hernandez won the support of Democratic delegates at the state party’s nominating convention.

The winner of the June 23 primary election will face freshman state Rep. Jill Koford, R-Ogden, who is looking to move to the Senate. Senate District 5 includes portions of Davis, Morgan and Weber counties.

The Salt Lake Tribune posed the following questions, based on a reader survey about the issues Utahns felt were most important this election season, to each of the two primary candidates. Their answers — listed in alphabetical order by last name — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar.

A plurality of voters, more than 30%, said elected official corruption is the primary issue driving who they’ll vote for, with another nearly 14% of voters saying it is their second-highest issue. Why are so many Utah voters concerned about corruption in politics? How will you build trust with Utahns?

Hernandez: Too many Utahns feel decisions are being made behind closed doors while everyday families struggle to be heard. When voters see special interests prioritized over public needs, trust erodes. I believe leadership starts with transparency, accountability and listening to the people impacted by policy decisions. I will hold open community conversations, protect voter-approved initiatives, support ethical government practices and focus on real issues like affordability, education and protecting our air and water — not political games.

Wurth: Too many Utahns feel government serves a political class rather than the people. After decades of one-party supermajority rule, our state has become less affordable, with families and young people facing rising costs and difficult tradeoffs. Trust is eroded when elected officials appear insulated from the consequences of their decisions and prioritize their own interests over their constituents. I’ll rebuild trust through transparency, regular engagement and accountability. As the only working-class candidate in this race, I bring lived experiences that reflect the district I seek to represent.

After corruption, more than 16% of Utah voters said everyday affordability — like the cost of housing, groceries, gas, etc — is the first thing on their minds as they vote this year. Another 15% said it is their second-highest issue. What will you do to help make life more affordable for Utahns?

Hernandez: Utah families are working hard, but housing, groceries, childcare and utility costs continue to rise faster than wages. I will focus on increasing affordable housing options, promoting living wages and supporting workers’ rights to organize, strengthening public education and workforce pathways, and ensuring large corporations and developers contribute fairly to the infrastructure and resources they rely on. Government should focus less on political distractions and more on helping families build stable, affordable lives here in Utah.

Wurth: On affordability, Utahns need immediate relief from everyday costs. That starts with eliminating the sales tax on groceries and ending the income tax on Social Security benefits. Both are regressive taxes that place a heavier burden on seniors, working families and those living on fixed incomes. Housing affordability remains the number one issue facing our state. We need bold policies that help people buy homes, build equity, preserve existing affordable units and increase the supply of attainable ownership opportunities so more Utahns can put down roots and thrive. That is long overdue now.

Utah has experienced drought for much of the last two decades. The availability of water is the third-most-pressing issue for voters this year. What can elected officials do to ensure Utahns have enough water for the future?

Hernandez: Utah must take water conservation and long-term planning seriously. We need smarter water management, stronger conservation standards and greater accountability for high water-use industries and developments — especially as the Great Salt Lake continues to decline. I support investing in water-efficient infrastructure, protecting open space and watersheds, and promoting sustainable growth policies that balance economic development with the long-term needs of Utah families, agriculture and our environment.

Wurth: Water conservation must be a shared responsibility. For too long, everyday Utahns have been asked to do more while the largest water users face too little scrutiny. We need stronger conservation standards across residential, commercial, industrial and government sectors, smarter landscaping policies and investments in water-efficient infrastructure. Agriculture must remain part of the solution through voluntary, incentive-based programs that reduce waste while protecting farmers. We should also require major water users, including data centers, to meet strict efficiency and reuse standards.

Should the state continue to pursue nuclear energy? What can be done to address Utah’s growing energy needs?

Hernandez: Yes. Utah’s growing energy needs require a balanced, forward-looking strategy. We should: expand renewable energy; modernize and strengthen the grid; invest in energy efficiency and conservation; and carefully evaluate emerging technologies, including nuclear energy, with strong safeguards. At the same time, large energy users like data centers and new industrial developments must contribute fairly to infrastructure and resource demands. Our energy policies should protect reliability, affordability, public health and Utah’s natural resources for future generations.

Wurth: Yes. Utah should take a diversified approach to energy while prioritizing immediate investment in renewable sources. Nuclear may play a role in our long-term energy mix, but it is too far from deployment to address today’s challenges. We can expand solar, wind, geothermal, storage and efficiency programs now while modernizing the grid. Clean energy investments reduce dependence on fossil fuels, create good-paying jobs and improve air quality. Along the Wasatch Front, reducing emissions can help lessen inversion-related pollution that harms public health. This strengthens resilience.

In 2018, voters narrowly passed the Better Boundaries initiative, creating an independent redistricting commission and prohibiting partisan gerrymandering. The Legislature’s attempts to significantly weaken the Better Boundaries initiative spawned years of litigation, culminating in a court adopting new congressional boundaries. Who should be responsible for drawing Utah’s political boundaries? Why?

Hernandez: Utah’s political boundaries should be drawn through an independent, transparent process that keeps communities together and reflects voters — not partisan interests. Voters approved the Better Boundaries initiative because they wanted fair representation, accountability and leaders who listen to the people they serve. When politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives, trust in government erodes. Districts should respect communities, encourage competition and ensure every Utahn’s voice has equal weight in our representative democracy.

Wurth: Politicians should not be allowed to pick their own voters. An independent redistricting commission is essential to restoring trust and integrity in our elections. The Legislature has repeatedly shown it can’t be trusted to draw fair, balanced maps when its own political interests are at stake. While recent changes have improved representation in some federal districts, the same standard should apply to state legislative maps. Gerrymandering undermines democracy. If elected officials cannot win on the merits of their ideas without drawing their own districts, they do not deserve to hold office.

Is there an imbalance of power between the Legislature and the courts? If so, what should be done about it?

Hernandez: Yes. Utah’s government depends on strong checks and balances. I am concerned by legislative power grabs — not only in redistricting, but also efforts to expand or undermine the courts when lawmakers disagree with rulings. Weakening judicial independence or ignoring voter-approved initiatives erodes public trust. We need transparent, accountable leadership that respects the constitutional role of each branch of government and listens to voters.

Wurth: Absolutely. The Legislature repeatedly runs afoul of the state constitution and works against the interests of the people they represent. The pendulum of power has swung too far in their favor — and that’s most apparent in their efforts to expand and pack the Supreme Court. This is a system of checks and balances, and the Legislature doesn’t get to change the rules every time they try to overstep their authority and get held in check.

What do you believe is the most pressing issue before voters this year? What can be done to address it?

Hernandez: I believe affordability is the most pressing issue facing Utah families. Housing, groceries, childcare and health care costs are rising faster than wages, making it harder for people to build stable lives. We need practical solutions: more affordable housing, living wages, strong public education and workforce pathways, and leadership focused on real community needs instead of political distractions.

Wurth: Housing affordability is the most pressing issue facing Utah today. For too many families, young people and essential workers, homeownership is moving further out of reach despite doing everything right. We need policies that increase the supply of attainable homes, preserve existing affordable housing, encourage ownership opportunities like condos and townhomes, and curb speculative practices that drive up costs. A home should be a path to stability and the American dream, not an impossible dream. Utah’s future depends on making housing affordable again.