Our state has experienced unprecedented growth. We can either manage it head on or let it run us over. Growth puts strain on our resources and infrastructure. It changes our communities. But it can also bring incredible opportunity, if we do it right.

Population density comes with challenges. More people in fewer square miles means more water usage, more electricity demand, and more wear and tear on roads. HD4 is growing like crazy. Rich County saw GDP growth of 17.1% between 2022 and 2023 - the third highest growth rate of counties in Utah.* Mountain Green in Morgan County is nearly unrecognizable from a few years ago; multiple new developments near Trapper’s Loop have changed the skyline. Park City creeps north as home prices keep rising.

Our water is not infinite. Our roads will always need repair. We have two major interstates going through our district from which we barely benefit because truckers can’t get off at our exits to buy lunch or gas.

It also tends to favor leftist values. It’s no secret that urban areas tend to become blue. Utah is surrounded by red states with big blue dots that outvote everyone else, like Colorado, Oregon and Washington. It also means we need to be able to trust the outcomes of our elections. They should be transparent, fair, and definitive. We saw in 2024 that Utah’s election laws have holes; I will work with the legislature to fix them.

This is why overall state growth matters too. In total GDP dollars, Salt Lake dominates; in 2023, Salt Lake County’s GDP made up over 50% of the state’s total economy.* Salt Lake County may not be in HD4, but it matters because it’s the bluest part of the state. Our voices will be drowned out if growth is not managed. Utah is at risk of becoming a red state with a big blue dot.

What’s driving this growth also matters.

Is it creating jobs for Utahns? Do those jobs offer wages that enable financial independence and home ownership? Turns out that the top two industries driving the Utah economy are real estate and government.** This is a big problem.

Government spending does not drive innovation and jobs, and all it’s done is go up. In fiscal year 2015, total Utah government spending was approximately $13.0 billion. By fiscal year 2025, the Utah state budget increased to $29.4 billion, representing a rise of about $16.4 billion, or 126%, over ten years.

Real estate is incredibly important - and Utah has a massive housing crisis - but it’s consumptive. You have to have a job in order to afford your rent or mortgage. That’s why we also need to grow the productive parts of our economy, like manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and technology. That’s how we create opportunities for our children.

And that’s why I’m in this race.

If nothing changes, my son won’t be able to afford a home in Utah when he grows up. Even if he gets a four year degree in engineering like his dad and a relatively high paying job, he’ll struggle to save enough for a down payment. When he starts school, is he going to be subjected to a DEI version of history and literature or one focused on learning?

It’s easy to stand by and complain. It’s much harder to stand up and get in the arena. I’m running because I care. I’m running because I know what good policy looks like. I’m running because I have the background to help Utah be a great place to live, not just for my family, but my son’s future family - and yours. I’m running because I don’t like to complain; I like to do. I hope to earn your vote.

*Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product by County and Metropolitan Area, 2023, released December 4, 2024.

**Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product by State, Custom Table for Utah by Industry, released December 4, 2024.