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Utah House of Representatives District 56
Utah House of Representatives District 56 is represented by Val Peterson (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Utah state representatives represented an average of 43,670 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 36,944 residents.
About the office
Members of the Utah House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Utah legislators assume office the first day in January.[1][2]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Utah House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[3]
- A U.S. citizen,
- At least 25 years old,
- A three-year resident of Utah,
- A resident for 6 months of the relevant house district, and
- A qualified voter.
In addition, eligible candidates cannot:[3]
- Have been convicted of certain crimes, or
- Hold a public office of profit or trust.
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $293.55/legislative day | Per diem is reimbursed to state legislators when they submit receipts or turn in expense reports. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Utah State Legislature, the governor is responsible for selecting a replacement. A liaison for the political party that last held the seat must recommend a successor to the governor. A person who is selected to fill a vacant state House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Interim appointees to state Senate seats serve until the next regular general election.[5]
If the vacancy happens after the nominating deadline in an election year, but before August 31, a new candidate must file a declaration of candidacy and certificate of nomination in order to be on the ballot. Nominating papers must be filed within 21 days after the vacancy occurs.[6]
See sources: Utah Const. Art. 6, Sec. 13 and Utah Code §20A-1-503
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed new state legislative districts for both chambers into law on November 16, 2021. After Cox called a special session to begin on November 9, 2021, the Utah legislature voted to approve the House and Senate district maps on November 10, 2021. The House districts proposal passed the House in a 60-12 vote and cleared the Senate in a 25-3 vote. The House voted 58-13 to approve the Senate map and the Senate approved the proposal in a 26-2 vote. [7][8] These maps took effect for Utah's 2022 legislative elections.
Both proposals differed from those presented to the legislative committee by Utah's Independent Redistricting Commission on November 1, 2021.[9] The commission presented 12 maps (three each for House, Senate, congressional, and school board districts) to the Legislative Redistricting Committee, one of which was submitted by a citizen.[10]
How does redistricting in Utah work? In Utah, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are ultimately enacted by the state legislature. An advisory commission submits proposed maps to the legislature for its approval. This commission comprises the following seven members:[11]
- One appointed by the governor, to serve as the chair of the commission;
- One appointed by the president of the Utah Senate;
- One appointed by the speaker of the Utah House of Representatives;
- One appointed by the leader of the largest minority political party in the Utah Senate;
- One appointed by the leader of the largest minority political party in the Utah House of Representatives;
- One appointed jointly by the leadership of the majority political party in the Utah Senate, president of the Utah Senate, and the leadership of the same political party in the Utah House of Representatives; and
- One appointed jointly by the leadership of the largest minority political party in the Utah Senate, and the leadership of the same political party in the Utah House of Representatives, including the speaker of the House, if the speaker is a member of the same political party.
The commission is required to select between one and three plans, with the affirmative votes of at least five members, to submit to the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The chief justice is responsible for determining if the commission's plans meet redistricting standards. The commission then forwards the plans to the state legislature, which may decide whether to accept, amend, or reject the plans.
Utah House of Representatives District 56
until December 31, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Utah House of Representatives District 56
starting January 1, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Utah House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Val Peterson won election in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Val Peterson (R) | 100.0 | 12,338 |
| Total votes: 12,338 | |||
 = 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 primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Val Peterson advanced from the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 56.
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Val Peterson advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on April 20, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Val Peterson (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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Val Peterson won election in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Val Peterson (R) | 100.0 | 8,866 |
| Total votes: 8,866 | |||
| = 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 primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Val Peterson advanced from the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 56.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican convention
Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Val Peterson advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Val Peterson (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. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Kay Christofferson defeated Kate Walters in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kay Christofferson (R) | 81.6 | 15,844 |
 | Kate Walters (United Utah Party) | 18.4 | 3,576 | |
| Total votes: 19,420 | |||
| = 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 primary election
Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Kay Christofferson defeated Merrilee Boyack in the Republican primary for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Christofferson | 58.5 | 4,984 |
 | Merrilee Boyack | 41.5 | 3,532 | |
| Total votes: 8,516 | |||
| = 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 56
Incumbent Kay Christofferson and Merrilee Boyack advanced from the Republican convention for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on April 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Christofferson (R) |
| ✔ | | Merrilee Boyack (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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Utah House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Kay Christofferson won election in the general election for Utah House of Representatives District 56 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kay Christofferson (R) | 100.0 | 11,815 |
| Total votes: 11,815 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 17, 2016.
Incumbent Kay Christofferson ran unopposed in the Utah House of Representatives District 56 general election.[12]
| Utah House of Representatives, District 56 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Kay Christofferson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Utah Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Kay Christofferson ran unopposed in the Utah House of Representatives District 56 Republican primary.[13][14]
| Utah House of Representatives District 56, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Kay Christofferson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Utah House of Representatives 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. Mark Byrge, Sr. was unopposed in the Democratic convention but withdrew before the general election. Incumbent Kay Christofferson was unopposed in the Republican convention and was unopposed in the general election.[15]
2012
Elections for the office of Utah House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 26, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Republican Kay Christofferson defeated Democrat Leslie Dalton in the general election. Christofferson defeated Christy Kane in the Republican primary election. Dalton was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[16][17]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kay Christofferson |
87.5% | 11,921 | |
| Democratic | Leslie Dalton | 12.5% | 1,701 | |
| Total Votes | 13,622 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Kay Christofferson |
58.8% | 2,261 |
| Christy Kane | 41.2% | 1,584 |
| Total Votes | 3,845 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Utah House of Representatives District 56 raised a total of $480,083. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $20,873 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Utah House of Representatives District 56 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $17,551 | 1 | $17,551 |
| 2022 | $82,855 | 1 | $82,855 |
| 2020 | $133,085 | 3 | $44,362 |
| 2018 | $41,698 | 1 | $41,698 |
| 2016 | $38,607 | 1 | $38,607 |
| 2014 | $30,871 | 2 | $15,436 |
| 2012 | $38,755 | 3 | $12,918 |
| 2010 | $13,356 | 1 | $13,356 |
| 2008 | $18,146 | 1 | $18,146 |
| 2006 | $22,538 | 1 | $22,538 |
| 2004 | $14,519 | 2 | $7,260 |
| 2002 | $5,644 | 1 | $5,644 |
| 2000 | $22,458 | 5 | $4,492 |
| Total | $480,083 | 23 | $20,873 |
Other election results in district
The map below highlight's this state legislative district and provides election results from the most recent election. Using the dropdown on the left, you can choose to view results for the most recent presidential election or U.S. House district election instead. This will show you the votes cast in this district for that election. The dropdown on the right will let you see either the map colored by the percentage of votes the winning candidate received or let you know the number and type of votes cast by size and shade of the circle in each county.
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah Constitution, "Article VI, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vote.Utah.gov, "State of Utah 2024 Candidate Manual," accessed May 23, 2025 (page 4)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Utah Legislature, "Utah Code - Statutes 20A-1-503 (3) (a)-(b)," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah Legislature, "Utah Code - Statutes 20A-1-503 (3) (a)-(b)," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "S.B. 2006 Utah State Senate Boundaries and Election Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "H.B. 2005 Utah State House Boundaries Designation," accessed November 17, 2021
- ↑ KSL, "Utah redistricting map battles underscore independent-panel hurdles across the US," November 13, 2021
- ↑ Utah Public Radio, "Utah Independent Redistricting Commission proposes 12 maps to Utah lawmakers," November 2, 2021
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Utah," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ Utah Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed November 29, 2016
- ↑ Utah.gov, "2016 Candidate Filings," accessed March 23, 2016
- ↑ Utah.gov, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed August 20, 2016
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor, "2014 Candidate Filings," accessed March 22, 2014
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections, 2012 Candidate Filings, accessed October 21, 2013
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor Elections, Election Results, accessed October 21, 2013
