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Daniel W. Thatcher

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Daniel W. Thatcher
Forward Party
Prior offices:
Utah State Senate District 11
Years in office: 2023 - 2025
Predecessor: Dan McCay (R)
Successor: Emily Buss (Forward Party)
Utah State Senate District 12
Years in office: 2011 - 2023
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 8, 2022
Personal
Profession
Contractor
Contact
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
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Daniel W. Thatcher (Forward Party) was a member of the Utah State Senate, representing District 11. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. He left office on December 12, 2025.

Thatcher (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Utah State Senate to represent District 11. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

In March 2025, Thatcher announced that he was leaving the Republican Party and would join the Forward Party.[1] To read more about state legislators who switched parties, click here.

On October 21, 2025, Thatcher announced he would not seek re-election to the Utah State Senate District 11 in 2026 and that he planned to resign from the Utah State Senate prior to the 2026 legislative session.[2]

Biography

Daniel Thatcher's career experience includes working as an independent electronics and low voltage wiring contractor. He co-founded the Salt Lake County Young Republicans chapter and held various elected positions in the Salt Lake County Republican Party. His official biography describes him as self-educated.[3]

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Thatcher was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Thatcher was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Thatcher was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Utah committee assignments, 2017
• Government Operations and Political Subdivisions
• Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Thatcher served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Thatcher served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Thatcher served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2026

Daniel W. Thatcher did not file to run for re-election.

2022

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Utah State Senate District 11

Incumbent Daniel W. Thatcher won election in the general election for Utah State Senate District 11 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Daniel W. Thatcher
Daniel W. Thatcher (R)
 
100.0
 
24,680

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 24,680
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Daniel W. Thatcher advanced from the Republican primary for Utah State Senate District 11.

Republican convention

Republican convention for Utah State Senate District 11

Incumbent Daniel W. Thatcher defeated Brad Pratt, Heather Garcia, and Angie Martin in the Republican convention for Utah State Senate District 11 on April 23, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Daniel W. Thatcher
Daniel W. Thatcher (R)
 
61.6
 
69
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Brad Pratt (R)
 
38.4
 
43
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Heather Garcia (R)
 
0.0
 
0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Angie Martin (R)
 
0.0
 
0

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 112
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.

Note: The Republican convention advanced to two rounds of voting. In each round, candidates were eliminated or withdrew. After each round, delegates voted again until a winner was declared. The Republican convention results above show only the vote totals from the final round of voting.[4]

2018

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Utah State Senate District 12

Incumbent Daniel W. Thatcher defeated Clare Collard and Abrian Velarde in the general election for Utah State Senate District 12 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Daniel W. Thatcher
Daniel W. Thatcher (R)
 
50.4
 
13,835
Image of Clare Collard
Clare Collard (D)
 
45.2
 
12,400
Image of Abrian Velarde
Abrian Velarde (G)
 
4.5
 
1,225

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 27,460
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.

2014

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Utah State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 20, 2014. Legrand Peeples was defeated by Clare Collard in the Democratic convention. Incumbent Daniel W. Thatcher defeated Vicki Griffith in the Republican convention. Thatcher defeated Collard in the general election.[5]

Utah State Senate District 12, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel W. Thatcher Incumbent 58.8% 8,548
     Democratic Clare Collard 41.2% 5,998
Total Votes 14,546

2010

See also: Utah State Senate elections, 2010

Thatcher defeated incumbent Brent H. Goodfellow (D) in the November 2 general election. Thatcher defeated James L. Leigh in the June 22 primary.[6]

Utah State Senate, District 12, General Election 2010
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Daniel W. Thatcher (R) 9,432
Brent Goodfellow (D) 8,281

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Daniel W. Thatcher did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Daniel W. Thatcher campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Utah State Senate District 11Won general$114,743 $-28,599
2018Utah State Senate District 12Won general$68,795 N/A**
2014Utah State Senate, District 12Won $91,696 N/A**
2010Utah State Senate, District 12Won $16,917 N/A**
Grand total$292,151 $-28,599
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Utah

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2025.

  • Americans for Prosperity - Utah — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
  • Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2024.

  • Americans for Prosperity - Utah — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
  • Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2023.

  • Americans for Prosperity - Utah — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2022.

  • Americans for Prosperity - Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2021.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2020.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2019.

  • Alliance for a Better Utah — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills the Alliance for a Better Utah supported.
  • Americans for Prosperity - Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes on economic issues.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2018.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2017.

  • Americans for Prosperity - Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes on economic issues.
  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2016.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Legislative Ratings — Legislators are scored in the Conservative Liberal Index "to determine who is 'truly' Conservative or 'really' Liberal."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2015.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • Sutherland Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills picked by the Sutherland Institute that promote conservative policy.
  • The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
  • Utah Charter Network — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to charter schools.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah GrassRoots — Legislators are scored based on the organization's mission of "promoting the principles of limited government, constitution, representative government, participatory republic, free market economy, family, and separation of powers."
  • Utah Legislative Ratings — Legislators are scored in the Conservative Liberal Index "to determine who is 'truly' Conservative or 'really' Liberal."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on tax related legislation.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2014.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • Planned Parenthood Action Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to reproductive health issues.
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • Sutherland Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills picked by the Sutherland Institute that promote conservative policy.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah Legislative Ratings — Legislators are scored in the Conservative Liberal Index "to determine who is 'truly' Conservative or 'really' Liberal."
  • Utahns Against Common Core — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to Common Core.
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on taxpayer related bills.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2012.

  • Libertas Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes in relation to the organization's "mission to defend individual liberty, private property and free enterprise."
  • Parents for Choice in Education — Legislators are scored based on the issue of education.
  • Planned Parenthood Action Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to reproductive health issues.
  • Sierra Club Utah — Legislators are scored based on their votes relating to environmental and conservation issues.
  • Sutherland Institute — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills picked by the Sutherland Institute that promote conservative policy.
  • Utah Education Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to education.
  • Utah Legislative Ratings — Legislators are scored in the Conservative Liberal Index "to determine who is 'truly' Conservative or 'really' Liberal."
  • Utah Taxpayers Association — Legislators are scored based on their votes on taxpayer related bills.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Utah State Legislature in 2011.

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External links

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Deseret News, "Utah lawmaker joins the Forward Party," accessed March 19, 2025
    2. ↑ ‘’Utah Political Watch’’, "'Sen. Daniel Thatcher announces resignation; 2,400-member Utah Forward Party to pick his replacement,” October 21, 2025
    3. ↑ Utah Senate, "Daniel W. Thatcher," accessed March 7, 2023
    4. ↑ Utah Republican Party, "2022 Nominating Convention, April 23, 2022, Convention Results," accessed July 17, 2023
    5. ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor, "2014 Candidate Filings," accessed March 21, 2014
    6. ↑ Utah Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed May 23, 2014


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