Mike Kennedy (Utah)
2023 - Present
2027
1
Mike Kennedy (Republican Party) is a member of the Utah State Senate, representing District 21. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Kennedy (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Utah's 3rd Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source] He advanced from the Republican primary on June 25, 2024.
Kennedy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mike Kennedy was born in Lansing, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and an M.D. from Michigan State University in 1998. He earned a J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University in 2007. Kennedy's career experience includes working as a family doctor, attorney, small business owner, and state senator.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Kennedy was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Chair
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Chair
- Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
2021-2022
Kennedy was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Chair
- Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Utah committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Health and Human Services, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kennedy served on the following committees:
| Utah committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Health and Human Services |
| • Political Subdivisions |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Kennedy served on the following committees:
| Utah committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Health and Human Services |
| • Political Subdivisions |
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's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024
Utah's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Republican primary)
Utah's 3rd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Utah District 3
Glenn J. Wright and Mike Kennedy are running in the general election for U.S. House Utah District 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Glenn J. Wright (D) | |
 | Mike Kennedy (R)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Glenn J. Wright advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Utah District 3.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Utah District 3
Mike Kennedy defeated Case Lawrence, JR Bird, Stewart O. Peay, and John Dougall in the Republican primary for U.S. House Utah District 3 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Kennedy | 36.0 | 24,402 |
 | Case Lawrence | 22.7 | 15,402 | |
 | JR Bird | 17.1 | 11,600 | |
 | Stewart O. Peay | 14.7 | 9,952 | |
 | John Dougall | 9.4 | 6,357 | |
| Total votes: 67,713 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tate Howell (R)
- Kathryn Dahlin (R)
- Clayton Hunsaker (R)
- Lucky Bovo (R)
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 3
Glenn J. Wright advanced from the Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 3 on April 27, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Glenn J. Wright (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 U.S. House Utah District 3
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Mike Kennedy in round 6 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Total votes: 951 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Clayton Hunsaker (R)
Endorsements
Kennedy received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R)
2022
See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Utah State Senate District 21
Incumbent Mike Kennedy won election in the general election for Utah State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Kennedy (R) | 100.0 | 34,671 |
| Total votes: 34,671 | |||
| = 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 primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Mike Kennedy advanced from the Republican primary for Utah State Senate District 21.
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah State Senate District 21
Incumbent Mike Kennedy advanced from the Republican convention for Utah State Senate District 21 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Kennedy (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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2018
General election
Mitt Romney defeated Jenny Wilson, Timothy Noel Aalders, Craig Bowden, and Reed McCandless in the general election for U.S. Senate Utah on November 6, 2018.
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Utah
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mitt Romney (R) | 62.6 | 665,215 |
 | Jenny Wilson (D) | 30.9 | 328,541 | |
 | Timothy Noel Aalders (Constitution Party) | 2.7 | 28,774 | |
 | Craig Bowden (L) | 2.6 | 27,607 | |
 | Reed McCandless (Independent American Party) | 1.2 | 12,708 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 52 | ||
| Total votes: 1,062,897 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
The Utah Democratic Party held a nominating convention on April 28, 2018. Jenny Wilson, a Salt Lake County councilwoman, was selected via convention with 81 percent of the vote.[2]
Republican primary election
Mitt Romney defeated Mike Kennedy in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah on June 26, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mitt Romney | 71.3 | 240,021 |
| Mike Kennedy | 28.7 | 96,771 | |
| Total votes: 336,792 | |||
| = 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
- Robert C. Oaks, Retired 4 Star General, United States Air Force[3]
- State Rep. Cory Maloy (R)[4]
Campaign finance
The table below details the campaign finance reports by Kennedy and Romney as of April 1, 2018.[5]
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Kennedy | Republican Party | $752,499 | $752,499 | $0 | As of December 31, 2018 |
| Mitt Romney | Republican Party | $5,552,040 | $5,294,219 | $257,822 | As of December 31, 2018 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
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Polls
| United States Senate election in Utah, Republican primary | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Mitt Romney | Mike Kennedy | Other candidate | Undecided | Margin of Error | Sample Size | |||||||||||||
| Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Institute of Politics June 11-18, 2018 | 65% | 23% | 4% | 8% | +/-5.2 | 356 | |||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
| United States Senate election in Utah, Republican primary | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Mitt Romney | Mike Kennedy | Don't know | Margin of Error | Sample Size | ||||||||||||||
| Dan Jones & Associates May 15-25, 2018 | 67% | 24% | 9% | +/-5.7 | 295 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
| United States Senate election in Utah, Republican primary | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Mitt Romney, Republican | Don't know | Jenny Wilson, Democrat | Craig Bowden, Libertarian | Dan McCay, Republican | Other | Mitchell Vice, Democrat | Larry Meyers, Republican | Jay Hyatt, Republican | Alicia Colvin, Republican | Margin of Error | Sample Size | |||||||
| Dan Jones & Associates February 9-16, 2018 | 60% | 14% | 14% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | +/-4.0 | 609 | |||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | |||||||||||||||||||
Campaign advertisements
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2016
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 17, 2016.
Incumbent Mike Kennedy ran unopposed in the Utah House of Representatives District 27 general election.[6]
| Utah House of Representatives, District 27 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Mike Kennedy Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Utah Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Mike Kennedy ran unopposed in the Utah House of Representatives District 27 Republican primary.[7][8]
| Utah House of Representatives District 27, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Mike Kennedy Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 20, 2014. William McGee was unopposed in the Democratic convention. Incumbent Mike Kennedy was unopposed in the Republican convention. Kennedy defeated McGee in the general election.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kennedy Incumbent |
88.4% | 6,997 | |
| Democratic | William McGee | 11.6% | 918 | |
| Total Votes | 7,915 | |||
2012
Kennedy won election in the 2012 election for Utah House of Representatives District 27. Kennedy advanced past the Republican convention, defeated Sarah Nitta in the June 26 Republican primary, and defeated Scott Morgan (C) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Kennedy |
92.1% | 14,335 | |
| Constitution | Scott Morgan | 7.9% | 1,222 | |
| Total Votes | 15,557 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Mike Kennedy |
52.9% | 2,586 |
| Sarah Nitta | 47.1% | 2,299 |
| Total Votes | 4,885 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mike Kennedy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kennedy's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Mike is committed to bringing principled, results-driven leadership to the forefront and putting Utahns ahead of special interests.
As a family physician, attorney, business owner, and father, Mike Kennedy has seen up close how the failure of Washington to control inflation, secure our border, or even pass a budget makes life harder for everyday Americans. As a legislator, serving in Utah’s part-time legislature, Mike Kennedy has been a conservative advocate for fiscal responsibility, limited government, and safeguarding individual liberties. His legislative achievements include working with others to cut taxes and balance the budget, while spearheading multiple efforts to make government more efficient and protecting the most vulnerable in society.
As a state senator, Mike is respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for his ability to listen and present thoughtful, conservative solutions to complex problems. Mike understands that standing on principle while getting things done is more important than just grabbing headlines.
No stranger to hard work, Mike grew up in a single-parent household, working to put himself through college at BYU and later medical school and law school. Today, Mike works as a family doctor in Lindon and volunteers his time providing free medical care to uninsured Utah residents at the Provo Volunteer Care Clinic. He is a dedicated husband to his wife of 31 years, Katrina, a father of eight, and a grandfather of nine.
- Mike Kennedy is focused on securing our border and keeping our families safe, emphasizing law and order. He’s committed to completing the border wall and leveraging the latest surveillance technology. Ensuring our border security and efficient immigration system reflects his dedication to safety and respect for the law. Kennedy is determined to provide border patrol and law enforcement with the tools, technology, staffing, and funding they need, reinforcing their capability to maintain secure borders. As a first-generation American, he appreciates America’s promise. After securing the border, Kennedy plans to streamline the legal immigration process, allowing law-abiding individuals to contribute to and share in the American dream.
- Mike Kennedy will tackle inflation to make Utah more affordable for families and small businesses. Committed to economic growth, sensible tax policies, and energy independence, he aims to stabilize the economy and control living costs. Kennedy plans to reduce bureaucracy, supporting legislation to help startups and encourage business innovation, aiming for a thriving market and job creation. His legislative work has helped secure over $1 billion in tax relief, putting money back into Utahns' pockets and prioritizing the family budget. As a small business owner and father of 8, Kennedy understands daily challenges families face making ends meet, advocating for policies that ease burdens on working families and small businesses.
- Mike understands it's time to rein in Washington, placing families ahead of special interests. He will prioritize Utah's interests, focusing on policies that uplift families, boost local businesses, and strengthen communities. His commitment to principled leadership aims to restore common sense in Washington and focus on results for Utahns. Mike will champion term limits for Congress to introduce fresh perspectives and diminish career politicians' influence. Additionally, Mike plans to enforce stricter lobbying regulations to reduce the impact of foreign and special interests on policymaking. Dedicated to restoring integrity and accountability, Mike will push for stronger ethics reforms on Congress and career bureaucrats.
- Tackling inflation: Cutting red tape, and advocating for tax relief to make life more affordable for Utahns.
- Securing our borders: Finishing the border wall and investing in technology and manpower, ensuring our immigration system is efficient and respectful.
- Fiscal Responsibility: Addressing the national debt with smart spending cuts and supporting a Balanced Budget Amendment.
- Energy Independence: Boosting domestic energy production and streamlining the permitting process to secure America's energy future.
- Healthcare Reform: Expanding Health Savings Accounts and increasing transparency to lower costs.
- Education: Restoring control to local communities, empowering parents and educators, and prioritizing classroom funding.
As a family doctor, attorney, successful small business owner, father, grandfather, and conservative state senator, Mike brings a unique mix of professional expertise and life experience. This combination equips him to effectively address and advocate for the needs of Utahns in Washington.
Growing up in a single-parent, poverty-stricken home, Mike would rake leaves, do odd jobs, bus tables, collect cans, and take on any available task to make extra money. He worked his way through college, earning a scholarship to medical school at Michigan State. After earning his MD, Mike completed his residency and started taking law classes at night while helping to take care of his growing family.
Addressing our greatest challenges over the next decade requires tackling the consequences of open border policies, securing our borders to ensure national security, and effectively managing immigration to uphold our laws and keep our families safe. The national debt, nearing $35 trillion, poses a significant threat to economic stability, necessitating urgent action to curb inflation and implement fiscal policies for sustainable growth.
Restoring civility and common sense in Washington is essential for progress, emphasizing principled stands and collaboration to cut wasteful spending and curb government overreach. Principled leadership must prioritize policies that benefit American families over special interests, focusing on economic growth to support businesses and make living more affordable for Utahns.
Sensible tax policies, energy independence, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles are key to fostering a conducive environment for innovation and job creation. Healthcare reform should prioritize patient needs, expanding Health Savings Accounts, and increasing transparency to lower costs and improve accessibility.
Education reform is crucial, with a focus on returning control to local communities, directly benefiting students and teachers, and empowering parents.
Protecting Utah public lands from federal overreach and restoring control to local communities. While boosting our energy production to achieve American energy independence and dominance on the global stage.
These challenges demand leadership committed to the welfare and prosperity of the United States, ready to bring about meaningful change and secure a promising future for all Americans.
Mike supports term limits 100% and he will champion the passage of term limits for Congress to foster fresh perspectives and prevent career politicians from prioritizing their tenure over the people’s needs. He also proposes stricter regulations on lobbying activities, particularly targeting the influence of lobbyists representing foreign and special interests, to ensure policy-making serves the public good.
We have several endorsements we will release over the coming weeks. Follow My social media pages @KennedyforUtah or visit my website MikeKennedyforUtah.com
Putting Utah Ahead of Special Interests
Prioritizing Utah’s Families, Businesses, and Communities: Mike will always place the interests of Utah above all, focusing on policies that support the state’s families, enhance local businesses, and strengthen communities. His dedication to principled leadership is centered on representing Utah’s values and needs in Washington, D.C., free from the sway of external pressures and interests.
Passing Term Limits and Reducing Lobbyist Power: Mike will champion the passage of term limits for Congress to foster fresh perspectives and prevent career politicians from prioritizing their tenure over the people’s needs. He also proposes stricter regulations on lobbying activities, particularly targeting the influence of lobbyists representing foreign and special interests, to ensure policy-making serves the public good.
Restoring Integrity and Accountability to Washington: Mike is steadfast in his commitment to ethical governance, targeting significant ethics reforms to lessen the grip of special interests on our political system. He will advocate for a mandatory cooling-off period for lawmakers before transitioning into lobbying roles and insists on complete transparency in congressional stock trading, ensuring that the focus of elected officials remains on the needs and welfare of Utahns and Americans, not the agendas of special interests.
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 website
Kennedy’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Boosting Economic Growth for Families and Businesses Cutting Through Bureaucracy and Red Tape: Mike will work to free job creators from the heavy load of unnecessary regulations. He’s been in the trenches, working hard to trim down rules that choke innovation and growth. Understanding the importance of fostering an innovative business environment, Mike supported and helped pass the pioneering sandbox legislation in Utah, allowing startups to navigate regulatory hurdles more easily. His goal is crystal clear – create a thriving environment where businesses can easily grow, innovate, and generate good-paying jobs for Utahns. Advocating for Tax Relief for Everyone: Mike’s efforts with his colleagues in the Utah state legislature have led to significant tax cuts, putting over a billion dollars back into the pockets of Utah families and businesses. Mike champions lower taxes not just to spur economic growth, but to ensure the tax code is fair and straightforward. He is firmly against letting foreign-owned companies benefit from U.S. tax incentives, ensuring those dollars support American growth first and foremost. Supporting Small Business: From his own experience as a small business owner with a large family, Mike understands the day-to-day challenges people face. He’s committed to easing these burdens through tax and regulatory relief for small businesses and advocating for energy policies that lead to lower costs and a stronger, independent economy. Mike’s life as a doctor, attorney, legislator, and father to a large family has fine-tuned his ability to make careful, thoughtful decisions about resources, a skill he’s eager to use to benefit Utah’s hardworking families. Ensuring Border Security and Improving Legal Immigration Backing Our Border Patrol: Mike is committed to making sure our border patrol and law enforcement are fully equipped with the equipment, technology, staffing, and funding they need to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. He supports strengthening their capabilities to ensure our borders remain secure. Improving Legal Immigration: As a first-generation American, Mike values the promise of America. After securing our border, Mike will work to improve and streamline the legal immigration process for law-abiding individuals to contribute to our country and share in the American dream. Putting Utah Ahead of Special Interests Passing Term Limits and Reducing Lobbyist Power: Mike will champion the passage of term limits for Congress to foster fresh perspectives and prevent career politicians from prioritizing their tenure over the people’s needs. He also proposes stricter regulations on lobbying activities, particularly targeting the influence of lobbyists representing foreign and special interests, to ensure policy-making serves the public good. Restoring Integrity and Accountability to Washington: Mike is steadfast in his commitment to ethical governance, targeting significant ethics reforms to lessen the grip of special interests on our political system. He will advocate for a mandatory cooling-off period for lawmakers before transitioning into lobbying roles and insists on complete transparency in congressional stock trading, ensuring that the focus of elected officials remains on the needs and welfare of Utahns and Americans, not the agendas of special interests. Reducing Federal Overreach and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility Cutting Through the Nonsense: With years of experience balancing Utah’s budget and delivering tax cuts to Utah residents, Mike has seen firsthand how a disciplined fiscal approach can lead to prosperity. He’s ready to take this discipline to Washington, cutting through the red tape of continuing resolutions and pork-filled omnibus bills. Mike’s message is clear: It’s time to get serious about our nation’s budgeting process, making it more transparent, more deliberate, and more about the people it’s supposed to serve. Ensuring Regulatory Accountability: Mike is an advocate for the REINS Act, which demands major regulations get a green light from Congress before they can take effect. This policy is about bringing power back to the people’s representatives and ensuring big decisions that affect the economy and individual freedoms are made openly and democratically. Mike is committed to ensuring the rules we live by are fair, transparent, and accountable to the American public. Unlocking Federal Lands to Combat Housing Shortages: Mike Kennedy is dedicated to working alongside Utah’s delegation to pass the Helping Open Underutilized Space to Ensure Shelter Act (HOUSES Act), a strategic free-market approach to the national housing shortage. This critical legislation will utilize select federal lands—excluding national parks and protected areas—to increase the availability of affordable housing for young families and seniors on fixed incomes. By championing the HOUSES Act, Mike is committed to empowering state and local governments, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and promoting local solutions to make life more affordable in Utah. This collaboration is a cornerstone of Mike’s vision for a prosperous Utah, where federal resources are leveraged in a way that meets the community’s needs, ensuring housing is more accessible and affordable through wise and conservative governance. Safeguarding Freedom, Life, and Utah’s Public Lands Defending Free Speech and Religious Liberty: Mike stands strongly in support of both free speech and religious freedom, recognizing these rights as foundational to a thriving democracy. He is committed to ensuring individuals can express their beliefs and ideas freely, without fear of censorship or persecution. Protecting the Right to Life: With a profound respect for the sanctity of life, Mike has a 100% pro-life voting record and champions policies that protect the vulnerable and affirm the value of life at all stages, from conception to a natural end. 'Demanding Local Control of Utah’s Public Lands: Recognizing that over 65% of Utah’s lands are under federal control, Mike advocates for a more localized approach to land management. He supports reforms to the Antiquities Act that would ensure local communities, farmers, and ranchers have a greater say in the stewardship of these lands. Mike is committed to the idea of transferring appropriate federal lands to state and private management, believing that those who live closest to these lands are best positioned to oversee their sustainable use and preservation. Furthermore, Mike opposes foreign ownership of American lands, especially by countries with adversarial positions, to safeguard our national security and the interests of local communities. Achieving American Energy Independence and Dominance Boosting Domestic Energy Production: Mike is committed to expanding domestic fossil fuel production, driving down energy costs, and creating jobs. To facilitate the swift development of energy infrastructure, Mike will champion the simplification and modernization of the energy permitting process and expand federal land leases for energy development. This approach not only supports the American middle class, but also solidifies our energy independence, contributing significantly to our national security and economic prosperity. Replenishing Strategic Energy Reserves: Mike advocates for policies that increase federal land leasing for energy production, especially in response to the depletion of strategic reserves. This strategy ensures America maintains robust energy reserves, safeguarding against future vulnerabilities. Leveraging Free Market Principles to Promote Renewable Energy: Mike is also committed to enhancing America’s energy independence by leveraging free market principles to promote the growth of renewable energy. By advocating for the removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers and government picking winners and losers, he aims to foster a competitive environment where renewable energy technologies can thrive on merit and innovation. Healthcare Reform That Prioritizes Patients Increasing Cost Transparency and Competition: Mike will use his unique experience as a Doctor, Attorney, and Conservative Legislator, to help cut through the confusion in healthcare pricing. By increasing transparency and competition among providers and insurers, Mike aims to lower costs and improve the quality of care for everyone. Boosting Telehealth Services: Understanding the importance of access to care, Mike champions expanding the option of telehealth services. This is especially crucial for improving healthcare access in underserved areas, making sure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it. Safeguarding Patient Privacy: In today’s digital world, Mike takes patient privacy seriously. He’s committed to enforcing strict protections against data breaches, ensuring personal health information stays secure. Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable: Mike will focus on tackling high prescription costs head-on through free-market solutions. He supports fostering competition and increasing the availability of generic drugs to make life-saving medications accessible and affordable for all. Mike also supports letting patients purchase prescriptions from other countries when it’s more affordable. Restoring Educational Control to States and Local Communities Directing Funds to Classrooms: Mike advocates for a streamlined approach to educational funding, aiming to cut through federal bureaucracy. His vision focuses on ensuring educational funds are allocated directly to Utah’s classrooms, providing the necessary support to both students and teachers to foster a high-quality educational environment. Empowering Parents and Educators: Central to Mike’s educational philosophy is the belief that those who are closest to the students—parents, teachers, and local school boards—hold the deepest understanding of the students’ educational needs. He proposes strengthening their capacity to make decisions, offering them the flexibility to develop and implement educational strategies that best prepare students for a range of successful futures.[13] |
” |
| —Mike Kennedy’s campaign website (2024)[14] | ||
2022
Mike Kennedy did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Kennedy's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[15]
- Taxes and the Economy
- Excerpt: "Utah's balanced budget law ensures that state government lives within its means. However, that doesn't stop government from increasing "the pie" by raising taxes, I will stand strongly in opposition to tax increases. We cannot tax ourselves out of this tight budget. Lowering taxes benefits everyone."
- Healthcare
- Excerpt: "Government should not be in the health care business. The free market approach is preferable to leaving decisions to bureaucrats. More freedom to choose and to innovate will keep our health care the best in the world. As a physician, I will use my experience and training to push back against Obamacare. The states should be allowed to develop their own market-based answers to our health care challenges. "
- 2nd Amendment
- Excerpt: "I support our constitutional right to bear arms."
- Education
- Excerpt: "A vibrant economy depends on a well-educated work force. In order for our state to remain competitive, we must focus on continual improvement in education. In Utah, we have some of the best parents and teachers in the country. I will support them by providing the best tools available to help educate our children."
- Proper Role of Government
- Excerpt: "Our compound constitutional republic derives its power from the people. Our founders granted defined responsibilities to the federal government, and left all remaining powers with the people or the state."
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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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 22 through March 8.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 23 through March 9. There was also a special session on September 20.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 25 through March 10.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Utah State Legislature was in session from January 26 through March 12.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 60th Utah State Legislature, second year, was in session from January 27 to March 14.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 60th Utah State Legislature, first year, was in session from January 28 to March 14.
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The Libertas Institute Index
The Libertas Institute is a libertarian-leaning think tank located in Utah.[19] Each year the organization releases a Legislative Index for Utah State Representatives and Senators.
2013
Mike Kennedy received an index rating of 55%.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Utah District 3 |
Officeholder Utah State Senate District 21 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 29, 2024
- ↑ Desert News, "McAdams, Wilson, easily win nominations at Democratic state convention," April 28, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Dr. Mike Kennedy on Twitter," May 24, 2018
- ↑ Cory Maloy website, "Rep. Cory Maloy endorses Dr. Mike Kennedy as US Senator from Utah," June 6, 2018
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidates for Senate," accessed April 23, 2018
- ↑ Utah Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed November 29, 2016
- ↑ Utah.gov, "2016 Candidate Filings," accessed March 23, 2016
- ↑ Utah.gov, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed August 20, 2016
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor, "2014 Candidate Filings," accessed March 22, 2014
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor's Office, "Utah 2012 candidate filings," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ C-SPAN, "AP Elections Results Utah - Summary Vote Results," accessed June 27, 2012
- ↑ Utah.Gov, "2012 Primary Election Results," accessed July 24, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Dr. Mike Kennedy, U.S. Congress, “Issues,” accessed March 9, 2024
- ↑ Kennedy House Calls, "Campaign website, Issues," accessed March 29, 2014
- ↑ GrassRoots, "2015 Legislative Report," accessed May 30, 2017
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Utah Legislative Ratings, "UTAH HOUSE Scorecard - Compiled 2015 Conservative Liberal Index," May 19, 2015
- ↑ GrassRoots, "2015 Legislative Report," accessed May 30, 2017
- ↑ Libertas Institute, "Legislator Indexes," accessed January 21, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jerry Stevenson (R) |
Utah State Senate District 21 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Daniel Hemmert (R) |
Utah State Senate District 14 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by Stephanie Pitcher (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Utah House of Representatives District 27 2013-2019 |
Succeeded by Brady Brammer (R) |
