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Kael Weston
Kael Weston (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Utah. He lost in the Democratic convention on April 23, 2022.
Biography
Kael Weston was born in Orem, Utah. Weston earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and a master's degree in philosophy from Cambridge University.[1] His career experience includes working in the U.S. Department of State for over a decade, including as a U.S. representative in the Khost Province of Afghanistan, and as a professor at Westminster College, the University of Utah, and the Marine Corps University. Weston received the Secretary of State’s Medal for Heroism and published a memoir titled, The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq & Afghanistan.[2]
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Utah, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Utah
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Utah on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Lee (R) | 53.2 | 571,974 |
 | Evan McMullin (Independent) | 42.7 | 459,958 | |
 | James Arthur Hansen (L)  | 3.0 | 31,784 | |
| Tommy Williams (Independent American Party of Utah) | 1.1 | 12,103 | ||
 | Laird Hamblin (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 152 | |
| Michael Seguin (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 60 | ||
 | Abe Korb (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 37 | |
| Total votes: 1,076,068 | |||
| = 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 primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Allen Glines (D)
- Austin Searle (D)
- Nick Mitchell (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah
Incumbent Mike Lee defeated Becky Edwards and Ally Isom in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Utah on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Lee | 61.9 | 258,089 |
 | Becky Edwards | 29.7 | 123,617 | |
 | Ally Isom | 8.4 | 34,997 | |
| Total votes: 416,703 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ty Jensen (R)
- Benjamin Davis (R)
- Brendan Wright (R)
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. James Arthur Hansen advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Utah.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. Senate Utah
No candidate advanced from the convention.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
 | Kael Weston (D) | 43.2 | 594 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 56.8 | 782 | ||
Vote totals may be incomplete for this race. | ||||
| Total votes: 1,376 | |||
| = 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 U.S. Senate Utah
The following candidates ran in the Republican convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Lee (R) | 70.7 | 2,621 |
| Becky Edwards (R) | 11.8 | 436 | |
| Ally Isom (R) | 9.7 | 358 | |
 | Jeremy Friedbaum (R) | 3.6 | 132 | |
 | Evan Barlow (R) | 2.0 | 75 | |
| Loy Arlan Brunson (R) | 1.9 | 71 | ||
| Laird Hamblin (R) | 0.3 | 12 | |
| Total votes: 3,705 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Constitution convention
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Alton Anderson (Constitution Party)
Independent American Party of Utah convention
Independent American Party of Utah convention for U.S. Senate Utah
Tommy Williams advanced from the Independent American Party of Utah convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Tommy Williams (Independent American Party of Utah) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Utah
James Arthur Hansen defeated Lucky Bovo in the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Utah on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| Lucky Bovo (L) | ||
| ✔ | | James Arthur Hansen (L) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
See also: Utah's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Kael Weston and J. Robert Latham in the general election for U.S. House Utah District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Stewart (R) | 59.0 | 208,997 |
| Kael Weston (D) | 36.6 | 129,762 | |
 | J. Robert Latham (L) | 4.4 | 15,465 | |
| Total votes: 354,224 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Jarvis (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ashley Jolin (D)
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Kael Weston defeated Randy Hopkins and Larry Livingston in the Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
 | Randy Hopkins (D) | |
| Larry Livingston (D) | ||
| ✔ | | Kael Weston (D) |
| ||||
| = 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 U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Mary Burkett, Ty Jensen, and Carson Jorgensen in the Republican convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Stewart (R) |
 | Mary Burkett (R) | |
 | Ty Jensen (R) | |
 | Carson Jorgensen (R) | |
| ||||
| = 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
To view Kael Weston's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kael Weston did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Weston's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
The elections of 2022 & 2024 are critical. They will help move our country and state forward or risk turning us backward toward a repeat of the poisonous politics of dysfunction, division, and fear. The U.S. Senate race in Utah this year is not only a referendum on the future of the Beehive State but also a barometer for the possibility of more hopeful and inclusive politics that address the needs of Utah families. Utah voters deserve elected leaders and policies that will bring much-needed political balance to our fast-growing state. Here are some key common good policy priorities that can bring Utahns together in common cause.
The effects of COVID on our economy continue to resonate, especially for working parents and heads of households who are unable to work remotely from home — those neighbors who stock food, clean hotel rooms, perform hospice care, and provide childcare. The Democratic Party-passed Child Tax Credit has now expired but helped reduce childhood poverty nationwide by an estimated 40%. No child in Utah, or in the U.S., should go to bed hungry when the wealthiest country in the world, ours, can afford to do more to help provide our nation’s poorest kids with better futures. Like too much of our country, Utah is a tale of two states. The economy is strong and unemployment is low overall — but there remain many Utah families who are still being left behind, particularly Utahns who get up early, get home late, then do it all over again. Utah workers deserve a living wage. I support raising the minimum wage. Labor unions deserve fair representation. I support the PRO Act — Protecting the Right to Organize — which has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives but is stalled in the U.S. Senate. We need only look to Utah’s own ski resorts to see the power of organizing, with Park City ski patrollers recently rallying public support for a basic hourly wage increase. Strong unions make Utah stronger. Strong unions make our country stronger. Tax fairness will require more equitable distribution of who pays what versus today’s who-gets-to-use-all-the-lobbyist-loopholes to avoid paying their fair share. Billionaires and the U.S.’s largest corporations should not continue to be allowed to pay little or no taxes. Billionaires can afford a tax increase. Hardworking Utah families have been squeezed enough by legislation that favors the ultra-rich.
Over 14 million Americans have signed up for the Affordable Care Act this year, a record number. Obamacare is not only popular, it is a smart policy that needs to be protected from repeated efforts to repeal the program by longtime Republicans like Mike Lee and Evan McMullin. The ACA continues to save many lives and help reduce the likelihood of family bankruptcies caused by expensive medical costs. I promise to protect the ACA and build on its success, not undermine Obamacare by offering vague healthcare policy promises. Medicaid and Medicare serve the common good and remain popular with Americans. Utah’s Medicaid program was expanded by popular vote in 2018. Medicare and Medicaid are also the largest payers of addiction treatment and mental health services in the U.S. and often the only healthcare lifeline in rural communities. These programs are vital given Utah has some of the highest rates of suicide and addiction in the nation. I believe in keeping these programs accessible and on strong financial footing. Like other Democrats, I favor reducing prescription drug costs, including insulin. No one should die in America because they lack access to life-saving drugs or feel forced to hoard supplies as is the case today. The U.S. government should be allowed to negotiate lower prices just like private insurers already do. Out-of-pocket expenses for some Medicare recipients should be capped. An important reminder: U.S. military active-duty troops are covered by Tricare, the Department of Defense’s popular and cost-effective single-payer program. Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare show that we have the ability to make these programs work. Universal coverage should not continue to remain out of reach for millions of Americans. The U.S. insurance industry should not continue to be driven primarily by profit. American families should not have worse health care coverage than members of Congress or U.S. Senators. What’s good enough for our elected officials should be good enough for Utah families.
Our country is dangerously divided. January 6, 2021, proved how precarious our national stability remains. We are not in a political truce but rather in a political hold. Democracy is under threat from attacks on longstanding institutions and on our electoral process, from the inside. Voting rights remain integral to a strong democracy. The Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to pass election laws, an authority that even conservative judges and now-deceased SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia recognized is effectively without limit. National legislation should be passed in order to protect the vote. I support Democrats’ efforts to pass The Freedom to Vote Act – 15 days for early voting, mail-in ballots, making Election Day a national holiday – and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would make illegal any voting rules that discriminate on the basis of race, language, or ethnicity and would empower voters to challenge discriminatory laws. Like former President Obama, I believe some form of voter ID requirement is reasonable, especially if the requirement is supported with steps to register all eligible voters and provide government-issued identification cards. Polling shows that a majority of Americans support more protections for voting rights. In Utah, the Legislature’s gerrymander of the state’s political maps for the next decade has exacerbated divides in our fast-growing Beehive State. By splitting up Salt Lake County into four parts for the Congressional map, Democrats and urban minority communities appear to have been specifically targeted for disenfranchisement. The election in 2022 is an important check on Utah’s Republican supermajority. All Utahns deserve ballots, filled top to bottom, with good candidates seeking their support, from whichever party. Any effort to further disenfranchise voters by ballot manipulation, or by limiting Election Day choices, is wrong. This includes any plan to suppress Election Day options for Utahns. Over half-a-million Utah voters chose to vote for a Democratic candidate in 2020.
Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. High-growth opportunities in our diversifying state are accompanied by challenges, not least drought and water conservation, affordability, infrastructure, clean air, and more. Our state must position itself to continue to welcome new Utahns who are born in the state and those who arrive by car, train, or plane. Whether a Utah family arrived in 1850 or last week, we are all Utahns. NIMBYism and Nostalgia are not a strategy. Our housing prices and rent increases reflect the reality of growth. Workforce housing is a statewide problem — some counties are doing better than others in meeting the challenge. Local communities should be encouraged and incentivized to develop smart growth policies to accommodate Utahns of every kind. Utah must continue to prioritize water conservation in an era where the Great Salt Lake is shrinking, Utah Lake is under consideration for a rushed plan for a tax-payer supported dredging project to benefit private developers, the Colorado River and Lake Powell are at record-low levels — all the while some state leaders and vested water interests continue to press the construction of a massive water pipeline to St. George, an area most suited to tortoises, ant hills, and lizards, not more golf courses. Even the Utah Legislature’s audit suggests that this huge water project might never pay for itself and perhaps would have to be bailed out by taxpayers. It is encouraging that Washington County officials have recently advanced higher water conservation goals, which are long overdue. County water wars will also require hard conversations, such as the one between Iron County and Beaver County. It is likewise encouraging that the Utah Legislature has begun to have detailed conversations about H2O in the country’s 2nd-driest state. Utah, as the second sunniest state, can and should be a leader in renewable energy rather than exporting most of that clean power to California. The future of Utah is increasingly about solar and wind farms and geothermal plants, such as those outside my parents’ hometown of Milford, Utah. Smart energy policies will create and support high-tech jobs and industries and help clean our often worst-in-the-nation air quality. Finally, Utah’s iconic public lands are our state’s legacy and one of our greatest shared resources. When contemplating our public lands, I’m reminded of the inscription on “Roosevelt Arch” at Yellowstone National Park: “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” Our public lands, monuments, and state and national parks are currently being loved to death, however. Visitation to Southern Utah’s national parks continue to break records, with even more campers and hikers and visitors expected across the coming years and decades. Utah’s all-Republican congressional delegation shares, unfortunately, a mostly one-sided view toward Utah public lands at odds with public opinion. Some of the West’s most iconic national parks were initially opposed by local politicians, who later expressed their regret — such as former Wyoming governor, Republican Cliff Hansen, regarding the creation of Grand Teton National Park. The federal government has a legitimate role in overseeing these lands as recognized in the U.S. and Utah constitutions, even as Native communities and local officials at the county level belong in key discussions regarding wise stewardship of Utah’s vast public acreage.[3] |
” |
| —Kael Weston's campaign website (2022)[4] | ||
2020
Kael Weston completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Weston's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Seven years in two wars taught me a lot about endurance, friendship, leadership, death, empathy, courage. My experience as a representative of the U.S. State Department in some of the most violent areas of Iraq and Afghanistan also showed me how elected representatives are charged with life and death decisions in matters of war and peace. Unfortunately, not enough well-meaning Members of Congress measured up when military leaders and I briefed them. Their questions were often disconnected from the realities we faced on the ground. Our country is divided at home while challenges grow abroad. Even with a strong economy, the strain is obvious. The 700,000+ Utahns who reside within this district deserve to be better represented.
- My first guiding value is Better Neighbors. Better policy starts with a choice, a commitment at the most local level to bridge divides and help heal our nation.
- My second guiding value is Country over Party. Corrosive partisanship undermines our country's interests. Private interests must not come before the public interest or public good.
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
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 16, 2020
- ↑ Kael Weston's campaign website, "Meet Kael Weston," accessed March 20, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kael Weston's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed March 20, 2022
