Note to readers • Click here to find an interactive map where you can enter your address to see all the races on your ballot that have a voter guide from The Salt Lake Tribune.

In Utah’s Senate District 9, incumbent Jen Plumb and her challengers see eye-to-eye on affordability challenges.

Republican Thaddeus Evans, Plumb — who’s a pediatric E.R. doctor — and J. Lowry Snow, the Forward Party candidate in the race, shared concerns in The Salt Lake Tribune’s candidate questionnaire about the cost of housing and childcare.

All three are running for the seat that represents central and eastern parts of Salt Lake County.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Mail-in ballots must be dropped off at a ballot dropbox by 8 p.m. on Election Day or, if returned by mail, must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Candidates submitted photos and answers through a questionnaire. Answers may have been edited for style and clarity. Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Utah voters told us government corruption is their top concern in this year’s election. Why do you think voters feel this way? And why should Utahns trust you to represent them?

Thaddeus Evans: Utahns deserve a government that listens to the people, operates transparently, and uses taxpayer dollars responsibly. Public service should be about solving problems for our communities, not serving special interests. I believe trust is earned through honest communication, open decision-making, and accountability for results.

I would work to make government more responsive to constituents, protect public access to information, and ensure that the voices of everyday Utahns are heard at the Capitol.

Jen Plumb: I understand why voters are concerned. When people feel decisions are made behind closed doors, accountability is lacking or their voices aren’t heard, trust erodes.

I don’t think any elected official should simply ask voters to trust them. We have to earn it. I work to do that by listening, being transparent about where I stand, following the evidence, and making decisions in good faith. Public office is a public trust, and I take that responsibility seriously.

J. Lowry Snow: Utahns are witnessing corruption firsthand: Lawmakers voting on bills that benefit their own interests, weakening public records laws, ignoring voter-approved district maps, green-lighting data centers and water projects with no public input. Decisions that benefit few and hurt many.

I’m not a career politician. I’m running for Utah Senate because I’m angry, too. I will fight corruption by operating transparently, inviting community input on major issues, and voting based on constituent feedback.

Utahns told us affordability is their second-highest priority in this election. How would you help Utahns afford housing, groceries, gas and other day-to-day expenses?

Evans: Utah families are working hard, but too many are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. People should be able to work, raise a family, and buy a home without being priced out of the communities they call home. I would focus on increasing the supply of attainable housing, reducing unnecessary barriers to construction, helping renters and first-time homebuyers, and looking for responsible ways to reduce the costs that burden families.

We must also support good-paying jobs, responsible government spending, and policies that give families more financial breathing room. Economic growth should improve life for Utahns, not make it harder for them to stay here.

Plumb: Utah families are feeling squeezed, and there isn’t one simple fix. I will keep working to increase the supply of attainable housing, support first-time buyers and renters, and remove unnecessary barriers that drive up housing costs. We also need good jobs with wages that keep pace with the cost of living, affordable healthcare and childcare, and responsible tax policies. My focus is simple: Help Utahns keep more of what they earn and make it possible to build a life here.

Snow: Utahns are facing real economic pain. Prices are up 20% in five years, and only 9% of new homeowners can afford a median-priced home. Areas I will focus on to improve affordability include making it easier to build homes on approved land; lowering childcare costs; blocking noncompete contracts that trap Utahns in lower-paying jobs; and bringing down healthcare costs for working families. Every vote I cast will focus on improving affordability for all Utahns.

Water resources were also a top concern for voters. What policies would you support as Utah looks to balance growth with preservation of the Great Salt Lake and the Colorado River?

Evans: Utah must balance growth with responsible stewardship of our water resources. The Great Salt Lake is essential to our environment, public health, and economy, and protecting it must be a priority. I support practical conservation measures, more efficient water use, responsible development planning, and accountability for how water resources are managed.

We must also work with other Colorado River states to protect Utah’s long-term water security. We can support a growing economy while protecting our natural resources, but that requires sound planning, responsible spending, and a commitment to long-term solutions.

Plumb: Utah cannot plan for growth without planning for water. I support stronger conservation, tying new development to realistic water availability, investing in agricultural and municipal efficiency, and ensuring conserved water actually reaches the Great Salt Lake.

We must also protect our share of the Colorado River through responsible use and regional cooperation. Growth and a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive, but we have to be willing to plan for both.

Snow: Utah faces an existential water crisis. Great Salt Lake is shrinking, Colorado River storage is at an all-time low, and lakebed dust pushed Salt Lake Valley air to four times the healthy limit in 2026. We pledged to restore the lake by 2034, but current bills, funding and government action are falling short.

This isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s a lack of leadership. Utah families deserve better. No state has ever brought a saline lake back. Utah can be first. This is what I’ll fight for in the Utah Senate.

What is another topic you care about and want to address if elected to public office?

Evans: A strong public education system is one of the best investments we can make in Utah’s future. Every child deserves access to a quality education. Teachers deserve the support and resources they need to help students succeed. I would prioritize strengthening our public schools, supporting and retaining excellent teachers, improving student outcomes, and ensuring effective use of education funding.

We should prepare students for college, technical training, and careers while making sure they develop the skills to succeed in a changing economy. Investing in our children today helps build a stronger workforce, a healthier economy, and a better future for Utah.

Plumb: I’ve spent my career caring for kids and families, and their safety and well-being will always be deeply important to me. I want Utah to be a place where every child is safe, supported and able to thrive. That means protecting their health, their privacy and their individual rights, and making sure the systems meant to care for them actually do. Kids deserve to grow up knowing they are valued, protected and supported for exactly who they are.

Snow: The rise of A.I. is impacting Utahns today, and A.I. safety is a real and growing concern. Utah ranks second in the nation for A.I. use at work, and 69% of Utahns say data centers take more than they give.

Utah needs legislators who understand A.I. technology and offer leadership to protect Utahns: Transparency from A.I. labs and accountability when A.I. harms people. I work in this industry and will bring leadership and legislation to regulate A.I. and protect Utah families and communities.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment A? If passed, the amendment will stop the practice of publishing the full text of amendments and ballot questions by lawmakers in a newspaper for 60 days ahead of an election and instead require that text to be published on two state websites.

Evans: Against.

Plumb: Against.

Snow: Against.

How will you vote on Constitutional Amendment B? If passed, citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes would need to be approved by 60% of voters, instead of a simple majority.

Evans: Against.

Plumb: Against.

Snow: Against.

What’s your favorite book and why?

Evans: My favorite book is “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger. I appreciate its exploration of growing up, staying true to yourself, and navigating a world that can sometimes feel complicated and disconnected. It reminds me how important it is to listen to young people, understand the challenges they face, and give them the support and opportunities they need to find their place in the world.

I believe those lessons are especially relevant in public service, where we must listen to different perspectives, treat people with respect, and work to build a better future for the next generation.

Plumb: “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton. It was the first book I remember truly not being able to put down. I loved the mix of science, imagination and suspense, and the feeling of getting completely lost in a story.

Snow: My favorite book is “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It explores faith, morality, freedom, responsibility and the complexity of human nature. I appreciate its universal themes and invitation to reflect on ourselves and our families.

Note • This story was updated at 9:40 a.m. Oct. 16 to include responses from Thaddeus Evans.