Chris Wharton

Chris Wharton

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Salt Lake City Council District 3

Salt Lake City Council District 3

Tenure

2018 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

7

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 2, 2021

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Westminster College, 2006

Law

University of Utah, 2009

Personal

Birthplace

Salt Lake City, Utah

Religion

Unitarian

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Personal LinkedIn

Chris Wharton is a member of the Salt Lake City Council in Utah, representing District 3. He assumed office in 2018. His current term ends on January 5, 2026.

Wharton is running for re-election to the Salt Lake City Council to represent District 3 in Utah. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Biography

Chris Wharton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a bachelor's degree from Westminster College in 2006 and a J.D from the University of Utah in 2009. Wharton's professional experience includes being an attorney. He has been affiliated with Wharton O'Brien PLLC, the Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah, and the Utah Democratic Party.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Salt Lake City, Utah (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Salt Lake City Council District 3

Incumbent Chris Wharton, David Berg, Liddy Huntsman, Blake McClary, and Jake Seastrand are running in the general election for Salt Lake City Council District 3 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Chris Wharton (Nonpartisan)
		David Berg (Nonpartisan)
		Liddy Huntsman (Nonpartisan)
		Blake McClary (Nonpartisan)
		Jake Seastrand (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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

2021

See also: City elections in Salt Lake City, Utah (2021)

General election

General election for Salt Lake City Council District 3

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Chris Wharton in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
	Submit photo	Chris Wharton	62.0	3,750	0	Won (1)
		Casey O'Brien McDonough	20.3	1,231	0	1
		David Berg	17.7	1,072	0	1

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,053
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

To view Wharton's endorsements in the 2021 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Chris Wharton has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Chris Wharton asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Chris Wharton, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask Chris Wharton to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing chris@votechriswharton.com.

2021

Chris Wharton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wharton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Chris is a dedicated community activist, a conscientious small business owner, and a leading family and civil rights attorney. Before he was elected to the Salt Lake City Council in 2017, Chris served two terms on the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission, where he helped establish the state’s first comprehensive non-discrimination ordinances for housing and employment. Chris also served on the Utah Pride Center Board of Directors. He has led advocacy efforts for the equal treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and families before the state legislature, the Utah Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

After working several years as an associate attorney, Chris opened his own firm focused on affordable legal services for clients who could not otherwise afford counsel. Chris also serves as a court-appointed guardian for vulnerable children and has donated hundreds of hours of service to the ACLU of Utah, the Rainbow Law Clinic, Equality Utah, and the Utah State Bar.

Chris also serves as a representative of Salt Lake City on the Utah League of Cities and Towns Legislative Policy Committee, the Salt Lake City - Utah Committee for the Olympic Games, and the Friends of the Salt Lake City Cemetery Board.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• The depth and breadth of my experience provides a critically needed voice on the Salt Lake City Council.
• I have utilized this experience to serve my community while addressing some of the biggest challenges Salt Lake City has faced.
• I am so excited to build on the work I've done on the city council to make Salt Lake City safer, more equitable, and welcoming to all.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about sustainability, housing and homelessness, transportation, investing in arts and parks, historic preservation, community safety and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Salt Lake City is the capitol city and the largest city in Utah. It's a cultural, legal, economic, and governmental hub for the state and the region. Along with the Mayor, the Salt Lake City Council helps set the political agenda for the city and ensures the city continues to thrive.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Harvey Milk for their advocacy in gender equality and LGBTQ+ visibility.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The movie Milk staring Sean Penn.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Patience and a desire to serve are the most important characteristics for an elected official.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am patient, hardworking, and have high ethical standards.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent the interests of Salt Lake City Council District 3 and advance the interests of the city as a whole.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to make Salt Lake City a more inclusive, equitable, and thriving city for future generations.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember the end of the cold war, even though I didn't fully understand what it meant at the time. I was 8 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working as a bagger at Smiths Grocery Store. I worked there for a year.

What is your favorite book? Why?

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, because of my love of history and politics.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Harry Potter

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Stay by Justin Bieber

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I am an openly gay man who has fought for equal rights and protections under the law in a state dominated by a political super-majority that is too often contrary to those values.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

There are many powers and responsibilities that the City Council has that I wish more people were aware of, but there are also a lot of limitations. Regardless of the topic, all of our formal meetings are open to the public, and any individual can come and speak before the council on the issues that impact them most.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Having some understanding of the city operations and the services that we provide is critical. Whether that's being involved in the community councils or serving on one of our boards and commissions, having some prior experience is extremely beneficial.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Understanding the structure of city government and the powers and limitations of the city council is critical. Councilmembers also need to be able to listen to resident feedback on a full spectrum of issues and opinions and find a workable compromise to deliver city services.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why should you never tell a taco a secret?

Because they tend to spill the beans.

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.

See also

2025 Elections

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Candidate

Salt Lake City Council District 3

Website

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