Comparing Utah U.S. Senate candidates

Republican Congressman John Curtis and Democrat Caroline Gleich will emerge as candidates for Utah's U.S. Senate seat on November 5th.

Sen. Mitt Romney announced that he would not run for re-election in September 2023, reopening the seat for the first time in five years. Both Curtis and Gleich have spoken about a range of issues in the lead-up to Election Day, highlighting differences in their initiatives.

John Curtis

Curtis currently represents Utah's 3rd Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He began his service in 2017. Prior to his time in Congress, Curtis designed and built shooting ranges for law enforcement training.

Accordingly his websiteCurtis is focusing his run for Senate on energy independence, fighting reckless spending, defending Utah's lands from the federal government and more.

Higher education

In an email statement, Curtis said he believes education decisions should be made locally. He also said these decisions should not be left to federal bureaucrats.

“Empowering states and localities to develop their own curricula and hire world-class teachers ensures that education is tailored to the needs of local students,” Curtis wrote.

He also noted that the higher education system should adapt to provide “real added value” to students. Curtis suggested that linking federal funding to universities and post-graduation outcomes would promote healthy competition between institutions and better opportunities for students.

These problems affected Curtis deeply.

“As a graduate of the University of Utah, I appreciate the many talented and qualified individuals who make it one of the finest higher education institutions in the country,” Curtis wrote.

Housing and affordability

During the 2024 Utah Senate DebateCurtis suggested several solutions to address the rising cost of living in Utah. He mentioned two initiatives that he believes will help reduce costs.

The first initiative Curtis pointed out was the Home Ownership, Mortgage and Equity Savings (HOMES) Actwhich he presented at the beginning of October. This bill would allow those with a self-directed IRA account to use the account's funds to purchase a primary residence for themselves or an immediate family member.

Curtis also expressed his support for it Help open up unused space to ensure the Housing (HOUSES) Actwhich authorizes the sale of federal lands to state and local governments for housing projects. When the bill says “state,” it specifically refers to BLM countryand excludes areas with designations such as monuments, wilderness areas, or national recreation areas.

Federal land use

In addition to his support of the HOUSES Act, Curtis expressed his confidence in the law Emery County Public Land Management Acta bill he proposed in 2018. This bill permits the use of some protected lands for commercial services as long as the use is for recreation, allows for the continuation of existing livestock grazing areas, and allows people to collect sediments and other materials for personal use. The law appoints the Ministry of the Interior to oversee these areas.

Accordingly his websiteIf elected, Curtis will continue to protect Utah lands from “foreign interference and federal overreach.”

Reproductive rights

During the debate, Curtis stated that he was firmly pro-life. He emphasized that his stance includes supporting the well-being of both the mother and the baby after birth. He believes that decisions about how and when to support any of these measures should be made at the state level.

“Let's face it, Republicans tend to talk incessantly about the babies, and Democrats, as a stereotype, tend to talk incessantly about the mothers,” Curtis said. “Both are important, we need to find common ground between them.”

According to a Press release on his website after the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Curtis said: “I am proud to witness today’s Supreme Court ruling in favor of human life. I welcome the overturn of Roe v. Wade and appreciates that the state’s policymakers can now enact laws consistent with their values.”

More about Curtis

Curtis' campaign website also explains his viewpoints on immigration at the southern border, energy, U.S.-China relations and politics, cryptocurrency, and more.

Information about Curtis' time in Congress, his initiatives and press releases can be found here Here.

Caroline Equals

Accordingly their campaign websiteGleich has fought to protect the environment by testifying before House and Senate committees on the climate crisis and natural resources. She has worked with Protect Our Winters to raise awareness of the climate crisis for over 15 years, meeting with several elected officials and more. The climate crisis is proving to be one of their biggest initiatives.

Gleich said she believes her candidacy is a unique opportunity for Utahns to send a new kind of leader to the U.S. Senate.

“At 38, I am the average American age and more in touch with the issues facing young people today,” Gleich said. “The average age of the U.S. Senate is 65, and with all due respect to the older generation, we know that the best policy comes when we represent people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.”

Higher education

Gleich said higher education should be affordable and accessible to everyone who pursues it. She suggested tackling banks' “predatory lending practices” that saddle those who can't afford higher education with massive student debt.

Additionally, Gleich said she supports the Biden administration's efforts to alleviate student debt. It also supports the continued financing of federal grants for universities or vocational schools.

Gleich also spoke about the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) since the passage of HB 261. She believes the impact of HB 261 has diminished the quality of education Utah students receive.

“Diversity is what makes our country and our state great, I’m honestly just appalled by the setbacks,” Gleich said. “Utah deserves a senator who will take our state forward, not backward.”

Housing and affordability

Accordingly their websiteGleich supports the federal government's efforts to reduce housing prices. These include incentives to assist first-time homebuyers, establishing a federal commission to study housing issues, and creating federal tax incentives to assist additional residential units and more.

During the 2024 Utah Senate DebateGleich explained that she plans to lower the cost of living in Utah by raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour.

“I don’t know about you, but I can’t get out of the grocery store for less than $50, and if you’re making minimum wage, that’s a full day’s work,” Gleich said.

Gleich also wants to support unions that are campaigning for better working conditions. She also wants to combat corporate greed, curb corporate price gouging, strengthen supply chains and, if elected, invest in the middle class.

Federal land use

During the debate, Gleich called Utah's public lands “national treasures.” She wants to protect them by ensuring that public lands remain in the hands of the federal government, not the state.

“We need a champion in the U.S. Senate to work on this Budget and Appropriations Committee(s) to get our public lands the federal funding they deserve,” Gleich said.

If elected, Gleich will advocate for a balance between public access and land protection. She said she will ensure local governments have the necessary resources to manage tourism and recreation and protect public lands from harmful resource extraction.

Reproductive rights

Gleich believes that “the decision about whether, when, and how to start a family should be left to women, their families, and their physicians.”

During the debate, Gleich brought up some of the unintended consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. She noted that some of these impacts affect her personally.

“We have also seen that (these impacts) led to attacks on IVF. For my husband Rob and I, IVF may be the only way to start a family in the future,” Gleich said. “It is long past time to put an end to this egregious government overreach into our most personal and intimate decisions. Utah deserves a U.S. Senator who trusts families to make the best decisions for themselves without government interference.”

Equally intends to “vigorously defend” reproductive freedom, including codifying Roe v. Wade on federal law and protecting access to contraceptives.

More about same

Gleich's campaign website contains information about her stance on a variety of other issues, including the economy, jobs, child care, caregiver support, healthcare, mental health, veterans, foreign policy, the climate crisis, clean energy and more.

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@Alina_Walkerr