SALT LAKE CITY – Although Salt Lake City stands out as a blue bubble in a red state, two Democratic candidates outside of that bubble think they can make a difference.
Provo, where roughly 35,000 students attend Brigham Young University, is at the heart of House District 62 and a part of Congressional District 3.
The Democratic candidates for those races hope to upset the Republican status quo there.
Fresh perspectives in the Legislature
In the race for House District 62, David Chappell is preparing to take on incumbent state Rep. Norm Thurston (R-Utah). Thurston has served in the state legislature since 2015.
Chappell said that he thinks it’s time for fresh perspectives to enter the legislature.
“I’m really hoping that people rally behind fresh people, new candidates, new ideas, because of how angry everyone is. We need to translate that into actually voting out all of these incumbents,” Chappell told Utah Junction.
Chappell, who is 27, also said he thinks the government needs younger lawmakers to reinvigorate the Legislature.
“We’re the youngest state in the nation. We need a younger legislature…I think we should be represented by younger people who understand what young people are going through right now.”
Chappell said he’s been hearing the same issues come up over and over as he visits with Provo residents, especially for young people.
“Pretty much every door that I talk to, they talk about how the cost of living has gotten out of hand, and the government isn’t doing anything about it,” Chappell said.
Chappell wants to see Utah declare a housing emergency and end sales tax on essentials like food, baby supplies, and medications.
Kent Udell, who’s running for Congressional District 3, had a similar insight. Udell has also heard worries about affordability.
He wants to see the state invest in more starter homes to provide Utahns with an affordable housing option. It’s something that hits close to home, Udell said, as he is worried about what his daughters’ futures look like.
Udell said people just want someone who will address the problems they’re currently facing.
“They know the system is rigged, and they want somebody to go in there and to fix it. They just don’t know who they should trust to go in there to do that…They want a representative that represents them, that works on the problems that affect them,” Udell told Utah Junction.
Udell and Chappell are both going up against current lawmakers. Chappell is running against Thurston, and Udell against US Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah).
Neither Democratic candidate has ever held office. They both said that they see that as an asset.
“I’m an engineer. I’m going to approach things as an engineer. I’m a certified sustainability professional. Part of my job is making sure that that development happens correctly and that everything is sustainable… that we can actually fulfill our promises,” Chappell said.
Udell, who is also an engineer, said his lack of political experience means there’s no voting record for his opponent to attack. Instead, he said, all his opponents can go off of is an engineering career.
“I come from a discipline of integrity, competence, and professionalism, and honesty, and truth,” Udell said. “If we lie, people die.”
Running as a Democrat as a strategy
Chappell and Udell both told Utah Junction that the choice to run as Democrats was strategic.
“I think that it’s more winnable as a Democrat than as an independent for this particular race,” Chappell said.
For Chappell, running as a Democratic candidate means more exposure. But he does feel that Utah County sometimes gets left behind by Democrats.
“I think a lot of people discount Utah County…We have so many people; we’re growing so fast. And so these small elections are going to be decided by a handful of votes…So I think it’s time to invest in Utah County,” Chappell said.
Udell said he considered running as an independent or unaffiliated candidate, but running as a Democrat meant access to the debate stage.
“I have to be on the debate stage to get my message out, to be able to talk to the people in this district,” Udell said. “And as a third party, (that) probably wouldn’t happen.”
And, Udell said, his heart is with the Democrats. His forefathers were Democrats, and Udell said he won’t abandon that heritage.
