A New Way to Choose Representation in Utah
The Forward Party of Utah is launching a first-of-its-kind, open process to fill the Utah Senate District 11 vacancy.
a Transparent experiment in senate district 11
Nearly one-quarter of Utah legislators first took office through midterm appointments made by party insiders.
This project invites the people of Senate District 11 to participate in a transparent, open selection process that gives every voter a voice and models a fairer, more accountable form of politics.
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Tynley Bean
ERDA
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Maleah Bliss
KEARNS
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Emily Buss
EAGLE MOUNTAIN
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Jeff Marshall
MAGNA
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Jeff Saunders
TOOELE
WHO SHOULD READ THIS
How This Process Will Work
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Eligible Utahns in District 11 needed to submit a Declaration of Intent (CLOSED) by November 11, 2025, and complete an application packet by November 14, 2025.
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Applications are reviewed for eligibility and Forward Party values. If more than five applicants qualify, a transparent pre-selection process narrows the field.
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Finalists’ ideas will compete on an equal playing field through the publication of their full candidate application packets and a single public online debate. Big spending is prohibited.
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District 11 voters will securely cast their ballots online using Approval Voting.
Approval Voting allows you to select ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for each candidate on the ballot, and whoever gets the most ‘yes’ votes wins.
The election will be conducted through technology provided by Secure Internet Voting. Visit siv.org to learn more.
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Every stage will be recorded and open to media review.
Why Try Something New
This initiative is designed to show what politics might look if a campaign was a competition of ideas, and if the outcome wasn’t pre-determined by party bosses gaming the rules to their advantage.
By running a fully transparent, privately funded preference poll, the Forward Party also aims to demonstrate the potential for secure, technology-enabled voting and more accountable systems for choosing representatives in state-run elections.
Senate District 11 Map
A complicated shape covering parts of Tooele, Salt Lake, and Utah counties, including Tooele, Eagle Mountain, tracts of West Valley City, West Jordan, Herriman, Magna, and a large portion of the West Desert.
Approval Voting
Approval voting lets voters say yes, or no, to every candidate rather than only letting them say yes to one. The candidate with the most ‘yes’ votes wins. The only change to the ballot is to the instruction line: ‘Vote for One’ becomes ‘Mark ALL NAMES you approve of’.
Press & Media coverage
For interview requests, press materials, or statements, contact:
press@utahforwardparty.org
“Utah’s Forward Party Wagers 60,000 Voters Can Choose Better Than 150 Party Insiders” — Utah Political Watch, Oct. 23 2025.
Read Article →
“Sen. Daniel Thatcher Announces Resignation; 2,400-Member Utah Forward Party to Pick His Replacement” — Utah Political Watch, Oct. 21 2025.
Read Article →
“Who Gets to Replace a Party-Switcher? Utah’s About to Find Out” — Utah Political Watch, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Sen. Daniel Thatcher Resigns from Utah Legislature” — Salt Lake Tribune, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Utah State Senator Dan Thatcher Resigns, Forward Party Responds” — ABC4 News, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Forward Party State Senator Announces Resignation, Promising ‘Honest Replacement Process’” — KUTV News, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Utah’s Only Third-Party Member in Legislature to Resign Before Next Session” — KSL.com, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Senator Thatcher Resigning Before January’s Legislative Session” — KSL Podcasts / Utah’s Noon News, Oct. 22 2025.
Listen →
“Forward Party of Utah: Dan Thatcher Intends to Resign” — Utah News Dispatch, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Utah Forward Party Takes a Novel Approach to Replace Retiring Sen. Daniel Thatcher” — KUER Public Radio, Oct. 23 2025.
Read Article →
Video: “Utah Forward Party Explains Sen. Thatcher’s Retirement and Open Selection Plan” — @elevate_utah via TikTok, Oct. 2025.
Watch Video →
“With a Lawmaker Leaving, Utah’s Forward Party Plans a New Way to Replace Him” — FOX 13 Now, Oct. 22 2025.
Read Article →
“Opinion: The challenge for Democrats and a new third party in Utah” — Deseret News, Oct. 28 2025
Read Article →
“Utah’s Forward Party introduces 5 candidates, lays out voting plan to replace Sen. Thatcher” — Utah News Dispatch, Nov. 20 2025. Read Article →
upcoming Events
Candidate Forum Hosted by the League of Women Voters
Thursday, December 4 - 6:30pm
Hunter Public Library, 4740 W 4100 S, West Valley City
Zoom link: TBD
question for the candidates? click here!
Help Spread the Word
Help spread the word about this unprecedented opportunity! This process is open to every voter in the district, regardless of party affiliation.
By displaying a yard sign, you help make sure more neighbors know they can take part. Greater awareness means greater participation, and greater participation means a more representative outcome for our community.
Join us in getting the word out. Click the button to receive your yard sign.
stay informed
Add your email here if want updates about when and how the District 11 voting process will open. Adding your email here will not add you to Forward Utah’s general communication channels.
Learn more about the Forward party
National Site
Utah Site