News and analysis right to your inbox. Click to get Ballotpedia’s newsletters!

Brett Nielsen

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Brett Nielsen
Candidate, Utah House of Representatives District 51
Elections and appointments
Last convention
April 2, 2026
Next election
June 23, 2026
Contact

Brett Nielsen (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Utah House of Representatives to represent District 51. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on June 23, 2026.[source] He was running in the Democratic convention on April 2, 2026.

Nielsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2026

See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on June 23, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Utah House of Representatives District 51

Brett Nielsen (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Utah House of Representatives District 51 on June 23, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Brett Nielsen
Brett Nielsen  Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 51

Brett Nielsen (D) ran in the Democratic convention for Utah House of Representatives District 51 on April 2, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Brett Nielsen
Brett Nielsen  Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican convention

Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 51

Incumbent Leah Hansen (R) is running in the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 51 on April 18, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Brett Nielsen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nielsen's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

I’m Brett Nielsen, a candidate for Utah House District 51. I was previously a Republican and still hold many traditional values, including limited and efficient government, personal responsibility, and support for small businesses and farmers. Over time, I found that I didn’t fully align with the direction of the Republican Party and felt politically without a home. I chose to run as a Democrat because I believe in a more inclusive and collaborative approach where people with differing perspectives, including more centrist voices like mine, can contribute and be heard. I grew up on a small farm in rural Idaho, where I learned the value of hard work, resourcefulness, and community. I now work as a project management consultant, helping organizations improve efficiency and solve complex problems. I bring that same systems-based, results-oriented approach to how I think about government and public service.
  • Accountability:

    I believe one of the biggest challenges today is restoring trust in government. People want a system that is transparent, accountable, and truly representative of the communities it serves.

    In a fast-growing district like House District 51, that need is even more important. As our communities expand, residents need to know their voices are being heard and their needs are being prioritized.

    Our system was designed with checks and balances to ensure government works for the people. That means being open about decisions, responsible with taxpayer dollars, and responsive to everyday citizens. I believe leadership should focus on listening, prioritizing the issues that matter most, and working collaboratively.
  • Affordability: The cost of living is one of the most pressing issues facing families in our district. I’ve spoken with people who are working hard but still struggling to keep up — some skipping meals between paychecks or feeling like homeownership is out of reach. We need practical solutions that lower everyday costs, increase housing availability responsibly and respectfully, and support wages and opportunity. I also believe tax relief should prioritize ordinary citizens, including reducing or eliminating taxes on essential goods where possible. Supporting farmers and locals by protecting their ability to afford and maintain their land is also critical to maintaining our local economy and long-term stability.
  • Working Class: House District 51 is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, and that growth brings both opportunity and responsibility. We need to ensure our infrastructure, roads, schools, healthcare access, and local economies keep pace without placing unnecessary financial burdens on current residents. I believe in investing in working people and building strong communities through smart, forward-looking planning. That includes supporting small businesses, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that growth benefits the people who live here. Our district needs leadership that will actively represent its needs and advocate for sustainable, well-managed development.
I am most passionate about government accountability, economic opportunity, and responsible growth. This includes improving transparency in government, addressing housing affordability and cost of living, supporting small businesses and farmers, and investing in infrastructure, education, and workforce development.

I am also interested in ensuring government operates efficiently and focuses on the highest priority issues affecting residents. I believe thoughtful planning, collaboration, and a systems-based approach to problem-solving are essential to delivering meaningful and lasting results for our communities.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

See also


External links

Footnotes


Current members of the Utah House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Mike Schultz
Majority Leader:Casey Snider
Minority Leader:Angela Romero
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Vacant
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Katy Hall (R)
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
Ken Ivory (R)
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
Vacant
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
Rex Shipp (R)
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
Republican Party (59)
Democratic Party (14)
Vacancies (2)