This story is published as part of U.S. Democracy Day and the Utah College Media Collaborative, a cross-campus project bringing together emerging journalists from Salt Lake Community College, the University of Utah, Utah State University and Utah Tech University.
Democrat incumbent Jennifer Dailey-Provost and Republican Steve Harmsen are the candidates running for House District 22, which includes the University of Utah campus and student housing.
The Utah House of Representatives is a “civilian-run” form of government. It comprises 75 representatives from across the state who serve two-year terms. The Utah Legislature meets annually in a general session to discuss and vote on new bills, establish agencies and propose new constitutional amendments.
Jen Dailey-Provost
Dailey-Provost is the Democratic minority whip in the Utah House of Representatives and has held her seat since 2019. She is also a public health researcher and associate instructor in the Division of Public Health at the University of Utah’s School of Medicine.
According to Dailey-Provost’s website, she prioritizes issues related to healthcare, education, the environment, economic inequality, and social, racial and gender justice.
In 2024, some of Dailey-Provost’s proposed legislation included educator salary modifications, services for people with disabilities and nonprofit hospital amendments. In 2023, Dailey-Provost sponsored a bill which allowed the U to open the Center for Medical Cannabis Research.
Dailey-Provost’s education policy tends to address K-12 education. However, she has expressed her stance on many other issues that impact students at the U.
On her website, Dailey-Provost said she prioritizes increased funding for mental health counselors in public schools and improving mental health resources for Utah students. She also plans to revisit anti-discrimination and hate crimes amendments until “meaningful legislation” has passed.
In a publication by Vote 411, Dailey-Provost said she has repeatedly supported policies addressing gun violence in Utah.
“Whether through the collection of data for further analysis and policy, or adherence to federal gun laws. I firmly believe gun violence is an issue that needs to be addressed,” she wrote.
Dailey-Provost has clarified her stance on abortion and reproductive rights in Utah. She told the Salt Lake Tribune that she does not support banning abortion after six weeks or a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion. She also does not support any restrictions on reproductive healthcare, such as fertility treatments, and that reproductive health decisions should remain between a doctor and a patient.
Steve Harmsen
Harmsen is the Republican candidate for House District 22. He does not have a website or a social media presence. However, he has answered some questions about his stance on specific issues.
In the publication by Vote 411, Harmsen clarified his thoughts on gun violence in Utah. He said he supports better background checks and red flag laws.
Harmsen told the Salt Lake Tribune he does not support banning abortion after six weeks, a constitutional amendment to ban abortion or restrictions on reproductive healthcare. Harmsen wrote in Vote 411 that he would support reproductive health for women to “something similar to Europe, i.e., France.”
France became the first country to add the right to an abortion to its constitution in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Harmsen did not clarify if he would support a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion.
Harmsen has also answered questions about sustainability in Utah. He suggested converting “generation facilities” to natural gas and then to nuclear power when feasible.
To combat water scarcity, Harmsen recommended programs to assist property owners in recycling rainwater and paying farmers to grow more water-efficient crops.
Election day is Nov. 5, 2024.
Alina Walker reported and wrote this story as a journalism student with The Daily Utah Chronicle at the University of Utah. Her article is published as part of the Utah College Media Collaborative, a statewide project in partnership with Amplify Utah.
