Note to readers • Click here to find an interactive map where you can enter your address to see all the races on your ballot that have a voter guide from The Salt Lake Tribune.

A Republican and a Democrat are vying for votes in southern Salt Lake County as they look to fill an open Utah House seat.

Jake Hunsaker, the Republican, has been here before. He once challenged U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens for a spot in Washington. Hunsaker is a senior operations manager for Qualtrics.

His Democratic opponent, Benyde Walker, is a first-time candidate, former educator and photographer for Young Living Essential Oils.

Current Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, left the seat open to run for a spot in the Utah Senate.

Voters will send Hunsaker or Walker up to Capitol Hill on Nov. 3, Election Day. The winner will represent House District 48, which includes parts of South Jordan, Herriman and Riverton.

Mailed ballots must be deposited in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day or, if returned by mail, must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Candidates submitted photos and answers through a questionnaire. Answers may have been edited for style and clarity. Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Utah voters told us government corruption is their top concern in this year’s election. Why do you think voters feel this way? And why should Utahns trust you to represent them?

Jake Hunsaker: I think people get frustrated when there’s a gap between what politicians say and how they vote. If a vote contradicts the principles someone campaigned on, trust starts to erode. For me, transparency starts before the vote, not after. My votes should reflect the values I campaign on. If a vote is a surprise to the people I represent, something isn’t working. I’ll stay accessible, explain my reasoning, and be accountable for the impact of my votes.

Benyde Walker: Constituents have expressed concerns over government overreach, misuse of taxpayer funds, and corruption with politicians unpunished due to connections or wealth. Why trust me? I’m doing this for my daughter, my family, my community, and what I’m advocating for cannot be bought. I’m about honesty, and I’m not for sale. I’m dedicated to bringing back values and putting our community first in politics.

Utahns told us affordability is their second-highest priority in this election. How would you help Utahns afford housing, groceries, gas and other day-to-day expenses?

Hunsaker: Affordability is one of the biggest issues facing Utah families. The Legislature can help by increasing housing supply and removing barriers that make housing more expensive. We also need unfunded- mandate reform. Too often, the state creates costs for cities, counties, and schools that show up later on local property tax bills. Taxpayers deserve transparency before those costs are passed along.

Walker: I love this state. I love that it’s still growing, still full of people building something for their kids, but I hear it everywhere I go, people doing everything right and still feeling squeezed. Right now, they’re getting outbid by investors, hit at the pump, and priced out of their neighborhoods. Private equity has no business buying up our starter homes. We need policies that put families over investors. I’ll fight at the Capitol so working here means living here.

Water resources were also a top concern for voters. What policies would you support as Utah looks to balance growth with preservation of the Great Salt Lake and the Colorado River?

Hunsaker: Utah has made important progress on conservation, secondary water metering, agricultural optimization, and long-term water planning. We should build on that work while protecting the Great Salt Lake and our share of the Colorado River. I believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources. That means reducing waste, improving storage and delivery, and planning responsibly for future growth.

Walker: Fixing forfeiture risk, refining metering, and pricing signals offer better alternatives than direct crop mandates. Data centers remain a key concern; we possess the technology to construct facilities that avoid draining water, yet we do not require it, and we should. We need full transparency on data centers. We need growth that doesn’t gamble with a shrinking river.

What is another topic you care about and want to address if elected to public office?

Hunsaker: Infrastructure. In our corner of the valley, we sit in traffic, send our kids to crowded schools, and watch infrastructure lag behind growth. The problem isn’t growth itself. It’s that we plan too late. I want to change how state agencies prioritize roads, water, and other infrastructure so it comes alongside growth, not years after it. Faster infrastructure protects our quality of life and helps unlock the housing supply Utah families need.

Walker: I believe in strengthening our public schools, and I believe parents should get to choose what’s best for their child. Those two things aren’t in conflict. A strong public school system is what makes real choice possible in the first place, but one family’s choice shouldn’t come at the expense of the school down the street that another family relies on. I want a Utah where every option is a good one, not a system where choice for some means less for everyone else.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment A? If passed, the amendment will stop the practice of publishing the full text of amendments and ballot questions by lawmakers in a newspaper for 60 days ahead of an election and instead require that text to be published on two state websites.

Hunsaker: For.

Walker: Declined to answer.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment B? If passed, citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes would need to be approved by 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority.

Hunsaker: Against.

Walker: Declined to answer.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Hunsaker: “David and Goliath” by Malcolm Gladwell. I’ve always liked the idea that underdogs may have more going for them than anyone realizes. It’s a good reminder that approaching an old problem differently can be a real strength.

Walker: “All About Love” by bell hooks is one of my favorite books! The book explains how we give and receive love, the power of raising loved children, and knowing what kind of love we want for ourselves and our community.