133 Utah county races feature only one major-party candidate

Voters in Utah face limited choices in local elections, with 133 county-level races featuring candidates from only one of the two major political parties. A review of sample ballots and candidate lists from all 29 counties found that 124 races list only a Republican, while 9 list only a Democrat.

These uncontested positions cover key local offices, including commissioners, council members, county attorneys, sheriffs, and clerks. The data contrasts sharply with federal and state races, where both parties appear on the ballot in 81% of contests for Congress and the state legislature.

Only 26 county races across the state are contested between major parties. Another six races feature exclusively unaffiliated candidates or a single write-in option. The Forward Party, a newer political group, appears on the ballot in three races that lack a Democrat.

Geographic disparities exist in voter choice. Eighteen counties have no county race with a contest between a Democrat and a Republican. Salt Lake City offers contests in most races, though Democratic incumbent Lannie Chapman remains unopposed for county clerk.

Weber, Davis, and Utah counties have few contested positions despite housing nearly 1.5 million residents. Cache and Washington counties provide more options, with three contested county positions each. Summit County accounts for five of the nine Democrat-only races, while Grand County features contested races primarily among unaffiliated candidates.

Community groups plan poll-watching presence for the upcoming Utah elections. The analysis provides a snapshot of the current ballot structure, showing where voters have a single major-party choice for local leadership.