Jenny Wilson (politician)

Last updated

In July 2017, Wilson announced her intention to run in 2018 for the U.S. Senate against Orrin Hatch. In January 2018, Hatch announced he would retire at the end of his seventh term, leaving the seat open. [8] Wilson raised nearly $140,000 in the second-quarter fundraising period. [9] The Republican Party eventually selected 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run against Wilson to succeed Hatch.

Wilson lost the election on November 6, 2018, gaining 328,541 votes to Romney's 665,215. [10] Wilson had raised and spent just under $1 million on her campaign, compared to Romney's $5 million. [11]

Mayor of Salt Lake County

Selection

On January 25, 2019, Salt Lake County Democratic central committee members selected Wilson to serve the remainder of the mayoral term of Ben McAdams, who won election to Congress in the 2018 midterms and resigned to assume his congressional seat. [12] She was sworn in on January 29, 2019 at the Salt Lake County Government Center. [13] [14]

Tenure

Wilson has announced plans to form a new Office of Environmental Services in the county government to focus on improving air quality. [15] Wilson has filed comments with the Utah state Supreme Court asking for DACA recipients (known as "Dreamers") to practice law in Utah. [16]

In 2020, Wilson was elected to a full term as County Mayor, against Republican Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs and Green Party candidate, environmental activist Michael Cundick. [17]

Personal life

Raised in Salt Lake City, one of five children, Wilson is the daughter of Ted Wilson, mayor of Salt Lake City from 1976–1985, and Kathy Wilson, an artist and small business owner. She graduated from East High School in 1983 and the University of Utah in 1988, and received a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1998. [18] In 2013, she produced and directed a documentary film, The Grand Rescue, about a dramatic three-day rescue by park rangers, one of whom was her father, on the North Face of the Grand Teton. [19]

Wilson and her husband, Trell Rohovit, have two children. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Moss</span> American politician

Frank Edward "Ted" Moss was an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, from 1959 to 1977 he served as a United States Senator from Utah, and is currently the last Democrat to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Utah was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican Orrin Hatch won re-election to a sixth term. Hatch won all but one county with 60% to 70% of the vote. Ashdown won only Summit County by 342 votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010, along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican Party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato. As of 2024, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben McAdams</span> American politician and attorney (born 1974)

Benjamin Michael McAdams is an American politician and attorney who served as the U.S. representative from Utah's 4th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. He was the only Democratic member of Utah's congressional delegation, and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. From 2013 to 2019, he served as mayor of Salt Lake County, and from 2009 to 2012, he was the Utah state senator from the 2nd district, which includes Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, and a portion of West Valley. McAdams was elected to Congress in 2018, narrowly defeating two-term Republican incumbent Mia Love. In 2020, McAdams ran for reelection, but he lost to Republican challenger Burgess Owens. He is the most recent Democrat to represent Utah in Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Curtis (Utah politician)</span> American politician (born 1960)

John Ream Curtis is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Utah's 3rd congressional district since 2017. Before his election to Congress, Curtis, a Republican, served as mayor of Provo, Utah, from 2010 to 2017. On November 7, 2017, he won a special election to replace Jason Chaffetz in Congress after Chaffetz resigned. He was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022. He was the Republican nominee in the 2024 United States Senate election in Utah and is Senator-elect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2012 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and as various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch won re-election to a seventh term against the Democratic candidate, former state Senator and IBM executive Scott Howell, in a rematch of the 2000 Senate election,with Hatch doing slightly better than in 2000.. This would be the last time Hatch was elected to the Senate before his retirement in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah</span>

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and elected the four U.S. representatives from the state of Utah, an increase of one seat in reapportionment following the 2010 United States census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial federal presidential election, a concurrent quadrennial statewide gubernatorial election, all other simultaneous quadrennial statewide executive official election, and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate elections</span>

The 2018 United States Senate elections were held on November 6, 2018. Among the 100 seats, the 33 of Class 1 were contested in regular elections while 2 others were contested in special elections due to Senate vacancies in Minnesota and Mississippi. The regular election winners were elected to 6-year terms running from January 3, 2019, to January 3, 2025. Senate Democrats had 26 seats up for election, while Senate Republicans had 9 seats up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Wilson (politician)</span> American politician (born 1969)

Bradley R. Wilson is an American real estate developer and Republican politician. Wilson is a former member of the Utah House of Representatives, representing District 15. He served as the House Speaker from 2019 to 2023. On April 13, 2023, he formed an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Senate in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Utah, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. The primaries took place on June 26.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Utah gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Utah. Incumbent Republican governor Gary Herbert declined running for re-election to a third full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Utah elections</span>

The Utah general elections, 2018 were held in the U.S. state of Utah on November 6, 2018. One of Utah's U.S. Senate seats was up for election, as well as all four seats in the United States House of Representatives, fourteen Utah Senate seats and all of the Utah House of Representatives seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Utah's 3rd congressional district special election</span>

After previously stating that he would not run for re-election, Jason Chaffetz announced on May 19 that he was resigning his seat in the House, effective June 30. A special election was called to replace him with a filing period opening on May 19 and closing by June 30, an expected primary date of August 15, and an election day of November 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2024 United States Senate election in Utah is currently being held on November 5, 2024, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Utah. Republican congressman John Curtis and Democratic environmentalist Caroline Gleich are seeking their first term in office. The winner will succeed Republican incumbent Mitt Romney, who is not seeking a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Utah was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Utah. Incumbent senator Mike Lee, who was first elected in 2010, won re-election to a third term, defeating Evan McMullin, an independent candidate who was endorsed by the Utah Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Salt Lake County mayoral election</span>

The 2020 Salt Lake County mayoral election was held to elect the next mayor of Salt Lake County, Utah on November 3, 2020, alongside the presidential, House of Representatives and gubernatorial elections. This marked the sixth election to the office since the post was created in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Salt Lake County mayoral election</span>

The 2012 Salt Lake County mayoral election was held to elect the Mayor of Salt Lake County, Utah on November 6, 2012, alongside the presidential, House of Representatives, Senate, and gubernatorial elections. This marked the fourth election to the office since the post was created in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orrin Hatch 2000 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2000 presidential campaign of Orrin Hatch, a U.S. senator from Utah, officially began on July 1, 1999, with the establishment of an exploratory committee. Hatch had been a senator since 1977 and at the time of his announcement he was a high-ranking official on several Senate committees, most notably the chairman for the Senate Judiciary Committee. He had established himself as a conservative Republican who was known to work with liberal Democrats on major bipartisan bills, such as the 1997 Children's Health Insurance Program bill. From the beginning of his campaign, Hatch stressed his experience in federal government and attacked the perceived lack of experience of the Republican frontrunner, Texas governor George W. Bush. However, numerous commentators noted that Hatch's campaign was unlikely to succeed, due to his late entry into the race and Bush's dominant position in fundraising and opinion polling. Throughout his campaign, Hatch struggled to raise money and consistently polled in the single digits. In January 2000, he came in last place in the Iowa caucuses and announced on January 26 that he was ending his campaign, supporting eventual nominee Bush, who would go on to win the 2000 United States presidential election. Hatch remained in the Senate for several more years following his campaign and in 2015, as the most senior member of the Senate, he became the president pro tempore. In 2019, he decided to retire, ending his 42-year career as the most senior Republican senator ever before dying in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah</span>

The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Utah will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the State of Utah, one from each of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The primary elections were held on June 25, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Staggs</span> American politician (born 1974)

Trent Staggs is an American entrepreneur and politician, serving as the mayor of Riverton, Utah since 2018. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served on the Riverton City Council and was a candidate for the United States Senate.

References

  1. Dethman, Leigh (September 6, 2006). "Wilson is hoping to follow in her father's footsteps". Deseret News (Salt Lake City).
  2. Tanner, Courtney (March 19, 2017). "Utah Democrat Jenny Wilson appointed to national party transition team". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  3. Atkins, Josh (January 29, 2019). "Jenny Wilson sworn in as Salt Lake County Mayor". ABC 4. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  4. Larsen, Leia (November 5, 2020). "Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson wins first election to the post as challenger concedes". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. Hamburger, Jay (8 September 2017). "Jenny Wilson, Senate candidate, sees 'chaos and havoc' in Washington". parkrecord.com. Swift Communications, Inc. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Jenny Wilson". Utah Democrats.
  7. 1 2 Bernick, Bob. "Jenny Wilson says progressives stands fine fit for Salt Lake". Deseret News . Deseret News Publishing Company. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  8. Hughes, Siobhan (January 2, 2018). "Sen. Orrin Hatch announces he will retire at end of term". MarketWatch . Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  9. Bowman, Bridget (July 17, 2017). "Salt Lake Democrat Announces Challenge to Orrin Hatch". Roll Call . Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  10. "Mitt Romney is headed to Washington after all — as U.S. senator for Utah" By Dennis Romboy, Deseret News, Published: November 6, 2018
  11. Open Secrets Utah Senate 2018 Race
  12. Romboy, Dennis. "Salt Lake County Democrats elect Jenny Wilson as mayor to replace Rep. Ben McAdams". desertnews.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  13. Stevens, Taylor; Giardinelli, Christina. "Jenny Wilson takes the oath of office as new Salt Lake County mayor". sltrib.com. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  14. Romboy, Dennis. "Newly sworn-in Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson vows to have listening ear". ksl.com. Deseret Media Company. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. "'I feel incredibly prepared': Meet Salt Lake County's new mayor". Deseret News.
  16. Mayors Erin Mendenhall and Jenny Wilson ask Utah courts to let ‘Dreamers’ practice law
  17. Larsen, Leia (November 5, 2020). "Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson wins first election to the post as challenger concedes". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  18. "Jenny Wilson – Salt Lake County". slco.org. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  19. "'The Grand Rescue' Tells True Story of Legendary Grand Teton Rescue". KUED. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
Jenny Wilson
Mayor of Salt Lake County
Assumed office
January 29, 2019
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Utah
(Class 1)

2018
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Salt Lake County
2019–present
Incumbent