Gay Lynn Bennion
2023 - Present
2025
1
Gay Lynn Bennion (Democratic Party) is a member of the Utah House of Representatives, representing District 41. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. Her current term ends on January 1, 2025.
Bennion (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Utah House of Representatives to represent District 41. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. The Democratic primary for this office on June 25, 2024, was canceled.
Biography
Gay Lynn Bennion was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bennion earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in 1986.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Bennion was assigned to the following committees:
- House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Political Subdivisions Committee
- Administrative Rules Review Committee
2021-2022
Bennion was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion and Roy Piskadlo are running in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) | |
 | Roy Piskadlo (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion advanced from the Democratic primary for Utah House of Representatives District 41.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Roy Piskadlo advanced from the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 41.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion advanced from the Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on April 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Roy Piskadlo advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on April 13, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Roy Piskadlo (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion defeated Wayne Gary Sandberg in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) | 63.2 | 12,579 |
| Wayne Gary Sandberg (R) | 36.8 | 7,333 | |
| Total votes: 19,912 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion advanced from the Democratic primary for Utah House of Representatives District 41.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Wayne Gary Sandberg defeated Steve Aste in the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wayne Gary Sandberg | 57.4 | 3,515 |
| Steve Aste | 42.6 | 2,613 | |
| Total votes: 6,128 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Incumbent Gay Lynn Bennion advanced from the Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41
Steve Aste and Wayne Gary Sandberg advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 41 on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steve Aste (R) | 50.9 | 29 |
| ✔ | | Wayne Gary Sandberg (R) | 49.1 | 28 |
| Total votes: 57 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 46
Gay Lynn Bennion defeated Jaren Davis and Lee Anne Walker in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 46 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) | 56.6 | 12,467 |
 | Jaren Davis (R) | 38.7 | 8,520 | |
| Lee Anne Walker (L) | 4.7 | 1,034 | |
| Total votes: 22,021 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 46
Gay Lynn Bennion defeated Megan Skiles and Daisy Thomas in the Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 46 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Gay Lynn Bennion (D) |
| Megan Skiles (D) | |
| Daisy Thomas (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 46
Jaren Davis advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 46 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jaren Davis (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Bennion's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2022
Gay Lynn Bennion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bennion's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am from Holladay, Utah and graduated cum laude from BYU in English. When I married Jim 36 years ago, I signed on for adventure. With our four children, we are proud to have been an Air Force family, supporting Jim’s successful 26-year career. Through multiple moves for our family, I was proactive in creating community, leading women’s groups at church, volunteering in schools, and connecting neighbors with one another. Upon our return to Utah in 2012, my drive to create positive changes for all led me to join Women’s State Legislative Council where I actively followed bills, coordinated presentations for key legislation, wrote successful bill resolutions, and served in leadership for seven years. I volunteered to teach English to immigrants and refugees through English Skills Learning Center and am the recipient of the ESLC 2016 Jean and Bruce Bingham Literacy Legacy Award. I have enjoyed service as a Cub Scout and youth leader. Jim and I enjoy hiking, biking, and skiing with our adult children, their spouses, and our spunky granddaughters.
- I am a true representative. I listen and bring suggestions from our district to the state legislature. Thanks to input from constituents, the Inland Port Bill was improved to ensure the Port has the authority to incentivize cleaner engines to minimize air pollution. Ane now the Lt. Gov's Office can take action to ensure political action committees properly register. I am conducting a listening tour through our district and continue to receive vital information and suggestions from my neighbors and constituents who email me and attend our Neighborhood Chats.
- Our world is complex. I don't see people or issues as simplistic or black and white. I serve as Utah State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, and I am also a Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Champion for 2021 and 2022. We can work for cleaner air and water and also help businesses thrive. Ultimately, if we don't address environmental crises like the low levels of Great Salt Lake, all of us and the economy will be negatively impacted. I work with people with whom I may not always agree with to create better policy and future for all of us.
- I am 100% committed to my service for our district. I use my energy to thoroughly investigate the topics of most importance for our district and state.
I am focused on water. Utah is in the second year of extreme drought and in the second decade of dryer, hotter, longer summers. I meet with state leaders and study reports to find solutions to this serious problem. I am a founding member of the Bi-Partisan Great Salt Lake Caucus.
Since my election in 2020, I have focused on housing availability and affordability. I work with Utah Housing Coalition and other stakeholders for solutions. My constituents are concerned that illegal short-term rentals drive up home prices and remove homes from the housing market. I'm working with a national expert for better policy to prevent further negative impacts of this practice in Utah.
I am a strong advocate of public education. As a state with so many children, Utah needs to support teachers and provide more mental health professionals and nurses in our schools.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Gay Lynn Bennion completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bennion's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I graduated from Skyline High School, then BYU. When I married Jim 34 years ago, I signed on for adventure. With our four children, we are proud to have been an Air Force family, supporting Jim's successful 26-year career.
Everywhere we've lived, I have been proactive in creating community. My drive to create positive changes led me to join the nonpartisan Women's State Legislative Council, which works for the best legislation for Utah. For three years I served as chair of the Natural Resources Committee and currently lead the Education Committee. With people around the world fleeing war and chaos, I volunteered to teach English to immigrants and refugees. I have enjoyed service in church, scouting, and youth organizations.
In this time of challenge and divisiveness, we need leaders who listen to subject experts and lead boldly with compassion. I am such a leader. I am passionate about people and our beautiful, complex world. I have the energy and experience to work for the best possible future for all in a way that is sustainable. I will work to forge bridges of understanding as we move forward together to focus on the economy, education, health care, and the environment.
- During the last seven years as I've heard presentations on key legislation in our Women's State Legislative Council meetings, I have seen important, helpful bills introduced by legislators from both parties. However, because one party has a super majority, there are times when the voice of citizens is not heard. I attended many hearings for the 2019 Tax Reform. Teachers and small business owners made time to come testify against the tax reform, but the legislative leadership did not hear their concerns. This happened earlier in 2018 when citizens mobilized to draft and pass 3 citizen propositions, which were then watered down by the majority of our legislators. We need legislators who will listen, and I am committed to listening.
- Quality public education is vital for the future of our country. Passion for education led me to teach English to immigrants and refugees and inspired me to become WSLC Director of Education. Prior to the Covid-19 budget cuts, our state finally increased per student spending by 6% and improved investments in early education. I will ensure we continue to increase investing in our children's education and promote local control for our schools.
- As prior WSLC Director of Natural Resources, I know clean air and water are the foundation of our health. I care about Wasatch Blvd and our canyon transportation issues. I have written successful resolutions in support of increased funding for air quality and to give the Utah Department of Air Quality the ability to set their own standards to improve air quality, given our unique situation. I am aware of instances where our legislature is sometimes too eager to encourage businesses. We need to make decisions for the long term benefit of our state.
Education, healthcare, economy and environment.
I'm continually impressed by Abraham Lincoln. At this time of divisiveness in our country, I reflect on his wise words at a time of even greater distress and sorrow for our country. "With malice towards none, and charity towards all." We are the United States of America. We are stronger together.
Definitely. We are always stronger working together.
Education and Natural Resources
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Utah scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 17 to March 3.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 18 to March 4.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 19 to March 5.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Utah House of Representatives District 41 |
Officeholder Utah House of Representatives District 41 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 13, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Strong (R) |
Utah House of Representatives District 41 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Marie Poulson (D) |
Utah House of Representatives District 46 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by Jeff Stenquist (R) |
