Republican David Atkin is running again to try unseating current Utah House Rep. Sandra Hollins.
Hollins, a Democrat from Salt Lake County, is the current House minority whip and has represented the district since 2015. Atkin first challenged Hollins in 2022.
The Salt Lake Tribune submitted the same set of questions, based on top issues readers said they were watching in this election, to each candidate. The questions and their answers that appear below — with the candidates listed in alphabetical order — may have been edited slightly for length, style or grammar. The questions were sent to candidates before a Utah judge voided multiple amendments from ballots.
Utah’s largest electricity provider has canceled plans to replace its coal-fired power plants with nuclear power and has walked back comments about investing in clean energy. Should Utah be looking for more sustainable and less fossil fuel and carbon-dependent energy sources? If so, how?
David Atkin: Did not answer.
Sandra Hollins: Utah should focus on sustainable energy. We can accomplish this by continuing to invest in research and innovation for clean energy solutions.
Water scarcity continues to be a challenge for the state. Recent legislation has attempted to conserve water and to get more water to the Great Salt Lake and Colorado River. Should Utah do more to subsidize homeowners’ efforts to conserve water? What other steps should be taken to deal with water scarcity?
Atkins Did not answer.
Hollins: Utah should do more to subsidize both homeowners and businesses in their efforts to conserve water by encouraging efficient water use through incentive programs.
What policy changes would you support to address Utah’s affordable housing crisis?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: I support establishing policies that safeguard and maintain the existing affordable housing stock while also providing tenant protections.
Following the Utah Supreme Court’s recent decision to keep a near-total abortion ban blocked, anti-abortion lawmakers and advocates called for additional legislative action to circumvent the court-ordered injunction. Would you support banning abortion after six weeks?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: No.
Would you support a state constitutional amendment to ban abortion?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: No.
Should there be other restrictions on reproductive health care — especially fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: Fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization are often medically necessary, and restrictions can impede access to essential care.
Are you voting for or against the constitutional amendment that removes the requirement that income taxes be used for education and social services? Why?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: I am voting against this amendment. Without this requirement, there’s a risk that these services could be deprioritized in favor of other agendas, negatively impacting the community I represent.
A Utah judge has voided Amendment D and said votes for or against it cannot be counted, but the state is appealing. Do you support changing the Utah Constitution to guarantee that the Legislature can repeal or amend ballot initiatives?
Atkin: Did not answer.
Hollins: No.
