Two Draper legislators run for Utah leadership posts, with Nov. 3 as the gate

DRAPER — Utah lawmakers will elect chamber leaders on Nov. 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., and two legislators from Draper are on the ballots: Sen. Kirk Cullimore for Senate president and Rep. Cal Roberts for House assistant whip 12.

Both elections are majority caucus votes held after the general election, and both candidates must first win their own races on Nov. 3 12. Cullimore, a Republican, faces Democrat Shana Anderson; Roberts, a Republican, faces Democrat Braxten Rutherford 2.

**The Senate presidency**

Cullimore, a lawyer seeking a third term, represents District 19, which the Draper Herald, citing the Salt Lake Tribune, describes as spanning Sandy and Draper and reaching up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Alta 2. His opponent is Sen. Evan Vickers of Cedar City 12.

The seat is open because Senate President Stuart Adams lost his seat to Stephanie Hollist in June's Republican primary, ABC4 reported 1. ABC4 described the race as a toss-up, citing two insiders, one on background and one on the record.

"The race for Senate President is shaping up to be a very competitive election, and at this point I think it's genuinely difficult to predict the outcome," political consultant Taylor Morgan told ABC4 1.

Morgan said the contest centers on urban and rural interests, given that Vickers is from Cedar City and Cullimore from urban Salt Lake County, and that the outcome will determine committee assignments and chairmanships and the Senate's policy priorities for the 2027 session 1. ABC4 also reported that five new Republican senators are expected to join the chamber after Nov. 3 and that all of them are being courted for their votes 1.

The Senate's other contested posts, per ABC4: Wayne Harper of Taylorsville against Chris Wilson of Logan for majority leader; Mike McKell of Spanish Fork against John Johnson of Ogden for whip; and Cal Musselman, Heidi Balderree and Kevin Stratton for assistant whip 1.

**The House assistant whip race**

Roberts is finishing his first term. He won the Republican primary in 2024 and ran unopposed in the general election, the Tribune reported 3. Before the Legislature he served on the Draper City Council 3. In the House he chairs the Government Operations Committee and co-chairs the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability, according to the Tribune 3.

He is one of four Republicans running for the single assistant whip post: Stephanie Gricius of Eagle Mountain, Jordan Teuscher of South Jordan, Roberts and Logan Monson of Blanding 12. Also from the coverage area, Rep. Candice Pierucci of Herriman is the only candidate listed for House whip 1.

ABC4 reported that House Speaker Mike Schultz of Hooper is unopposed and that Casey Snider of Logan is listed for majority leader 1. The Herald noted that its list of House candidates was drawn from insider accounts and had not been confirmed by a House official 2.

In a Tribune candidate questionnaire, Roberts said he has worked on oversight of tax incentives and independent land authorities including MIDA and UIPA. "Taxpayers should not carry the downside while special interests get all the upside," he said 3. The Ledger reported on Oct. 24 that six of the eight numbered measures Roberts sponsored in the 2026 general session were signed, including HB 492 on transportation, infrastructure and housing, and HB 575 on fuel tax and supply 4.

**What happens next**

Members have until Nov. 4 to file for a leadership post, so the fields could still change, ABC4 reported 1. The elections follow the Nov. 3 general election, and each chamber announces its results after it finishes voting 1. The Senate will also fill its majority leader, whip and assistant whip posts in the same round 1.