Matt MacPherson and Michael Finch compete for Utah House District 26 seat

Incumbent Republican Matt MacPherson and Democrat Michael Finch are competing for Utah House District 26 ahead of the November 3, 2026 election. Addressing top voter concerns of government corruption, affordability, and the Great Salt Lake, MacPherson emphasizes his record of six consecutive income tax cuts worth $101 million, a 15% gas tax reduction, and $145 million in new public education funding. Finch promises to eliminate grocery taxes, curb corporate housing investment, and protect union rights.

House District 26 race

• ▪In the 2026 Utah House District 26 candidate questionnaire, Democratic candidate Michael Finch opposed Constitutional Amendments A and B, while Republican incumbent Matt MacPherson supported both.
• ▪Incumbent Republican State Representative Matt MacPherson, who took office in 2023, faces Democratic candidate Michael Finch in the 2026 election for Utah House District 26.
• ▪For the November 3, 2026 Utah election, mail ballots must be dropped off at a dropbox or received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Government corruption concerns

• ▪Democratic candidate Michael Finch criticized Utah state lawmakers for court packing, threatening judges with impeachment, and restricting mail-in voting.
• ▪Utah voters identified government corruption as their top concern in the 2026 general election.

Housing affordability crisis

• ▪Republican Representative Matt MacPherson cited legislative support for an expanded child tax credit, small business childcare tax credits, and the Truth in Taxation property tax transparency framework.
• ▪Utah voters ranked affordability as their second-highest priority for the 2026 state election.
• ▪Democratic candidate Michael Finch proposed expanding affordable housing, restricting corporate investors from purchasing residential homes, and eliminating state taxes on Social Security and groceries.

Tax cuts proposals

• ▪Republican Representative Matt MacPherson highlighted legislative action cutting state income taxes by $101 million for the sixth consecutive year and reducing Utah's gas tax by 15%.
• ▪Democratic candidate Michael Finch pledged to vote to eliminate Utah state sales tax on groceries and state taxes on Social Security.

Great Salt Lake preservation

• ▪Democratic candidate Michael Finch advocated for water conservation funding and requiring developers to fund infrastructure demands to save the Great Salt Lake.
• ▪Republican Representative Matt MacPherson stated that the Utah Legislature allocated nearly $100 million in 2026 toward Great Salt Lake conservation, water rights acquisitions, and dam safety upgrades.

Public education funding

• ▪Democratic candidate Michael Finch targeted House Bill 267 for removing collective bargaining rights from public emergency responders and teachers, noting over 320,000 Utahns signed a referendum petition against it.
• ▪Republican Representative Matt MacPherson reported that the Utah Legislature increased public school funding by over $145 million in 2026, raised per-student funding by over 4%, and increased starting teacher pay near $60,000.

Debatable claims

• ▪A simple majority is sufficient for voters to pass citizen-proposed tax increases
• ▪Utah should restore collective bargaining rights for public school teachers and emergency responders