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.

One of Utah’s top lawmakers, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, lost his reelection bid in the June GOP primary amid backlash for his role in approving a controversial data center project.

In November, voters in the district covering parts of Davis and Morgan counties will pick one of three candidates to fill Adams’s Senate seat.

The Republican who defeated Adams is Stephanie Hollist, the former general counsel for Weber State University. She is competing against Garret Rushforth, a Democrat and teacher in the Davis School District, and Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Ostler.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

If returned through the postal service, mail ballots must be sent early enough to arrive at the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Otherwise, they can be left at a drop box until polls close at 8 p.m.

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?

Hollist: Our government has been eroding the trust of the public for a while now — people feel decisions are made for self-serving reasons, for power or to serve special interests instead of people. Our conservative values will not stand for backdoor self-dealing. I taught government ethics for over 10 years. Trust is earned by being true to your word, being open and honest, and actively seeking to include and share the voices of the people you serve. That is what I will do to build trust.

Ostler: State of Utah corporation is bloated — the state’s top 100 employees made between $200K to $525K annually in fiscal 2025. Our elected servants are paid much less. Audits show corruption everywhere. … A great amount of our hard-earned money is being taken by counties and the state through income and property taxes — a taking of our God-given property rights. Davis County raised property taxes by almost 15% in 2026.

Rushforth: It feels more and more that elected officials have gotten into politics for self-serving interests and enriching themselves, and more and more voters are feeling like they are being ignored. We see this at the state level through the passage of HB267 banning collective bargaining for public employee unions — a law that was repealed after workers launched a referendum effort — and the Legislature’s attempts to buck the fair voting maps law. I’m different because I know my community. I’m not aloof. I work in education and know what friction points exist and what people are truly struggling with. There is no guesswork.

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?

Hollist: My focus will be on cutting taxpayer-funded programs that are not operating efficiently, not meeting expectations or that are serving special interests. Meaningful tax breaks should have more than a minuscule impact on our wallets, but should also not force unfunded mandates on counties and school districts so they have to raise taxes elsewhere to keep providing education and services. We know how to do this, but we need to be willing to call out boondoggles and waste. I am.

Ostler: Sales tax only on new items, lower income tax by 50% and stop all property taxes. Lower all state officials’ wages to $150,000 per year or under.

Rushforth: I would make sure that subsidy programs for first-time homebuyers are funded, that private equity firms are not allowed to purchase and hold single-family homes and that mandates from the state Legislature are properly funded instead of passing them on to cities and counties, resulting in property tax increases. I would look at electric vehicle subsidies to reduce gas dependency, and take a serious look at reducing or eliminating state tax on groceries. I would also like to explore walkable community policies.

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?

Hollist: Start by not building massive data centers without appropriately vetting their impact on our water and resources, including for the long term. We need solutions that incorporate technology, policy and incentives to find better ways to recycle water, improve drip irrigation systems, facilitate coordination between users and use water wisely. I’m also open to exploring piping possibilities.

Ostler: Not allowing data surveillance centers to waste our water resources right now — especially since we just came through a drought year with low snowfall and not much rain until recently. Our water must be used to raise crops for our food and farms.

Rushforth: I would support legislation that works in tandem with the federal government in providing funding for the restoration of the Great Salt Lake. The issue of water is a multi-point issue. Data centers, many of which use a high amount of water — even in a closed-loop system — need a moratorium until the lake is at a healthy level. I also support subsidies for irrigation improvement in the agricultural sector. The industrial, agricultural and municipal sectors, etc., need to work together for conservation.

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

Hollist: My district needs someone who is connected and will represent their voices ethically, transparently and pragmatically. I have served public interests for over 20 years and created policy systems that brought people together to find workable solutions. I will do that for us: find solutions to address our concerns about independent government entities — such as the Military Installation Development Authority, or MIDA — data centers, affordability, housing, protecting our resources and education. Together.

Ostler: Utah must stop violating the U.S. Constitution. If there was ever a state that should honor the U.S. Constitution, it is Utah. The majority of people in Utah know that it was God who established the Constitution by the hands of wise men and women whom HE raised up and inspired as to what is our responsibility as a state. Article 1, Section 10 says, “No State shall ... make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” Utah should lead out, but now Florida and Texas are leading this fight.

Rushforth: I grew up in a family where the my father, the primary income earner, was a public school teacher. I, myself, am a public school teacher. Teachers are frequently cited as one of the most impactful adults in children’s lives as they grow up. However, Utah has regularly fallen into last, or second-to-last, in per-pupil spending. Teachers are continually asked to do more with less. I would like to pursue an increase in per-pupil spending, wage increases for teachers as well as support staff.

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.

Hollist: Decline to answer.

Ostler: Against.

Rushforth: Against.

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.

Hollist: Decline to answer.

Ostler: For.

Rushforth: Against.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Hollist: “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare. It is the warning tale of a very smart person identifying every possible issue, analyzing it from 12 different angles and still not making the decisions needed to fix the situation. Plus it includes a ghost, murder, family dysfunction and politics.

Ostler: The Holy Scriptures have all the answers we need. Questions can be answered by scriptures or a personal connection with God who placed us here.

Rushforth: My favorite books are the “Mistborn” series by Brandon Sanderson. It’s a story of a small group of people who, through effort, idealism, pragmatism, frustration, fear and hope make a real difference. It reminds me that anyone can make a difference.