Utah’s State Senate District 3 race sees Republican incumbent Sen. John Johnson facing off against Stacey Bernal, a Democrat.

The Standard-Examiner reached out to both candidates with questions about their candidacy. However, Johnson has not responded. Information on his candidacy comes from the Utah.gov candidates and issues page.

Experience

Bernal noted in an emailed reply that she’s held several leadership positions.

“I have served on the boards for the Weber State University Alumni Association, Ogden-Weber Technical College Foundation, Ogden Diversity Commission, Autism After 21 Initiative, and the Ogden-Weber Chamber Women in Business,” she wrote. “I have volunteered and served with the Junior League of Ogden, the Weber-Morgan Children’s Justice Center, GOAL Foundation, Tri-City Exchange, and OgdenCAN. In 2018 I founded Awesome Autistic Ogden, an annual community event celebrating neurodiversity and disability. I am a graduate of the OWC Leadership Northern Utah and the Ogden Citizens’ Police Academy.

“In 2022 I partnered with the Ogden Police Department to implement an opt-in autism registry database to help ensure the safety of both neurodiverse individuals and law enforcement officers. Later that same year, I won my election to the Ogden School Board with nearly 65% of the vote. In addition to general board duties, I serve on the Student Achievement Committee, Equity Council, and Student Discipline subcommittee.

“In 2016 I started my own company doing trainings around the world before accepting a management role with the Utah Jazz in November 2022. I stepped down from that role in June in order to focus my efforts on my candidacy for the state senate.”

Johnson has served in the Utah Senate since 2021 and is an emeritus professor at Utah State University’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business and describes himself as an entrepreneur and job creator.

“John’s diverse experience includes time as a Professor of Data Analytics and Information Systems at Utah State University and co-founding a real estate tech company that revolutionized the mortgage process,” his candidate description states.

Why are you running?

Bernal said life experiences have driven her to run, even if she “wasn’t supposed to.”

“I am not ‘supposed’ to be a politician,” she wrote. “Nothing about my life made me destined to be a leader, let alone a state senator. An abuse survivor from a trailer park in South Carolina, I was meant to stay quiet and small. And then I became a single mom to a son who was diagnosed with autism. I had to become a voice for him. I saw how people, young and old, treated a kid who was different. I am running for senate because I can no longer be quiet about the hurtful bills coming from our legislature that directly harm my family and others I love. Rather than focus on issues like air quality, earthquake preparation, saving the Great Salt Lake, and improving affordable and accessible housing, our state legislature takes aim at some of our most marginalized communities.”

She added that she also wants to bring balance to the Legislature.

“I am running to make positive, meaningful change for those who have felt unrepresented,” she said. “I am running for senate to uplift families and residents by ensuring that advancement is shared fairly, leaving no voice unheard and no opportunity out of reach for any Utahn.”

Johnson has said he’s running to put Utahns first.

“John played a key role in repealing the 2019 attempt to raise taxes on food and fuel,” his description says. “As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, he has led efforts to increase classroom funding, raise teacher pay, and ensure parents and educators have a strong voice in our schools. John has helped provide over $1 billion in tax relief for Utahns and removed outdated regulations, helping foster job creation and economic growth.”

Focuses

Bernal said housing and cost of living are among her priorities.

“I will advocate for a balanced approach to addressing the current housing crisis,” she wrote. “I am committed to supporting legislation that reduces taxes where and when possible, easing the financial burden on everyday residents and families. I am committed to ensuring that our schools receive the support they need to help every student succeed.

“I believe that addressing Utah’s cost of living requires a comprehensive approach that tackles the various factors driving up expenses for residents. I advocate for several strategies to alleviate these costs, including affordable childcare for working families, fostering the creation of high-paying jobs across diverse industries, and ensuring that wages and benefits keep pace with inflation. I am committed to making life more affordable and sustainable for everyone.”

She said she is also focused on equitability, listening to voters and environmental issues that impact air quality and the Great Salt Lake.

According to his candidate profile, Johnson is focused on a broad range of topics: “John’s focus remains on serving our community by upholding the Constitution, reducing taxes, improving education, and promoting policies that will ensure Utah continues leading into the future. He’s consistently stood up for what is right, even when it was unpopular, always keeping his promises to the families he serves. John is committed to listening to your concerns and fighting for our future.”

For more information on both candidates, visit vote.utah.gov.