CACHE COUNTY – In a final burst of candidate filings on Jan. 8, Democrats and third-party candidates have signaled their intent to challenge several incumbent office holders in the upcoming 2026 state and local election.
At state level, incumbent lawmaker Rep. Mike Peterson (R-North Logan) will face off against Democratic challenger Barbara Haggerty to retain his District 2 seat in the Utah House of Representatives.
In competition for the District 3 seat in the Utah House will be incumbent Rep. Jason Thompson (R-River Heights), Ben Shaw of the Utah Forward Party and Patrick Belmont, an unaffiliated candidate.
In the southern portion of Cache County, incumbent Rep. Casey Snider (R-Paradise) will have to fend off challenges from fellow Republican Jim Atkinson as well as Democrat Kendra Penry.
While some local office holders will run uncontested to retain their posts, County Clerk Bryson Behm will face competition from Constitution Party candidate David R. Gillie in the November election.
In the race for the Logan District 2 seat on the Cache County Council recently vacated by Barbara Tidwell, Republicans JoAnn Bennett and Jeffrey Wallentine will compete in a special election being held by the Cache County Republican Party on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Ridgeline High School in Millville.
The victor in that contest will then face Democrat Allison Goulais in the November balloting.
In the race for the Logan District 3 seat on the Cache County Council, incumbent Council Chair Sandi Goodlander will complete with Democrat Mark Nafziger.
Democrat Lizette Villegas will also challenge incumbent council member, Mark R. Hurd, for the seat on the Cache County Council representing the Northeast 5 District of Logan.
Finally, incumbent Cache County Council member Kathryn Beus, who now represents the Southeast District 7, is facing challenges from Republican Kristy Theurer, Brianne Wheelwright of the Democratic Party and Peter Thatcher of the Constitution Party.
County officials who will run for re-election unopposed include Matt Funk for Auditor, George Daines for Executive and Chad Jensen for Sheriff.
The Forward Party of Utah advocates for centrist views on issues and election reform.
Based in Bountiful, the goal Constitution Party of Utah is to limit the federal government to its delegated and enumerated Constitutional functions.