Nick Mitchell (Utah)
Nick Mitchell (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Utah's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Mitchell also ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Utah. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on June 28, 2022.
Mitchell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Nick Mitchell was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended the University of Utah. Mitchell’s career experience includes working as a scientist and business owner.[1]
Elections
2022
U.S. House
See also: Utah's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Nick Mitchell, Jay Mcfarland, and Cassie Easley in the general election for U.S. House Utah District 2 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chris Stewart (R) | 59.7 | 154,883 |
 | Nick Mitchell (D) | 34.0 | 88,224 | |
 | Jay Mcfarland (United Utah Party)  | 3.3 | 8,622 | |
 | Cassie Easley (Constitution Party) | 3.0 | 7,670 | |
| Total votes: 259,399 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Phelan Acheson (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Nick Mitchell advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Utah District 2.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Utah District 2
Incumbent Chris Stewart defeated Erin Rider in the Republican primary for U.S. House Utah District 2 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Stewart | 72.6 | 75,588 |
 | Erin Rider | 27.4 | 28,480 | |
| Total votes: 104,068 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Constitution primary election
The Constitution primary election was canceled. Cassie Easley advanced from the Constitution primary for U.S. House Utah District 2.
United Utah Party primary election
The United Utah Party primary election was canceled. Jay Mcfarland advanced from the United Utah Party primary for U.S. House Utah District 2.
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Nick Mitchell defeated Steve Hartwick in the Democratic convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nick Mitchell (D) | 60.2 | 198 |
 | Steve Hartwick (D) | 39.8 | 131 | |
| Total votes: 329 | |||
| = 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 Erin Rider in the Republican convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Stewart (R) | 84.3 | 657 |
| Erin Rider (R) | 15.7 | 122 | |
| Total votes: 779 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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American Independent Party convention
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Thomas DeMille (American Independent Party)
Constitution convention
Constitution convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Cassie Easley advanced from the Constitution convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cassie Easley (Constitution Party) | 100.0 | 63 |
| Total votes: 63 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
United Utah Party convention
United Utah Party convention for U.S. House Utah District 2
Jay Mcfarland advanced from the United Utah Party convention for U.S. House Utah District 2 on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jay Mcfarland (United Utah Party) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
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U.S. Senate
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. | ||||
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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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2022
U.S. House
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Nick Mitchell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Mitchell's campaign website stated the following:
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Economy PILLARS Close tax loopholes for large corporations and the ultra-rich. Use the GINI index and GDP to measure the economy’s strength. Provide tax breaks to small businesses. Create a more robust federal small business loan program through SBA. MEASURING THE ECONOMY The economy is currently measured by GDP (Gross Domestic Product), the value of goods and services produced within U.S. borders and GNP (Gross National Product), the value produced by U.S. citizens regardless of location. It's essentially the credit score of a country. A more effective measurement of the economy would be with a wealth distribution model like the GINI index (measurement of wealth inequality) and GDP. GINI allows us to assess how everyday Americans are faring financially, not just the ultra-rich. SMALL BUSINESSES I believe we are seeing a bump in the economy currently because of all the new businesses created during the pandemic. If we allow people to pursue their passions and start businesses, it only benefits the economy. Being a small business owner is arduous. We should provide them, not large corporations, with assistance. If we prioritize small businesses over corporations, we will see a massive bump in the economy. The rich hoard money instead of circulating it in the economy to avoid taxes, whereas small businesses tend to circulate money and contribute taxes in their local community. When there were more small businesses and fewer corporations, the economy was more stable. If we put all our eggs in one basket and it fails, like the housing crisis in 2008, the entire economy collapses. If we diversify, like a mutual fund, then if one basket fails, we have others that can absorb the loss. Right now, if the FAANG stocks bubble bursts, our economy could crash because these stocks hold around 15–20% of the S&P 500. This is nearly directly-equivalent to our economic performance. One avenue to help the economy is by creating a more robust government program through the SBA (Small Business Association) that helps with loans. It would be funded by making the rich and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. Working-class outrage starts with wealth distribution. We need to focus on providing living wages. That will help the economy because workers will spend more, adding money to the economy. The rich hoarding wealth only hurts the economy. INFLATION Inflation is measured by the increase or decrease of service and product prices across the country, and this is culminated in the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) price index or CPI. Private corporations adjust prices based on supply and demand, and they often increase prices to increase profit. We operate under a capitalistic economy, so the government can’t, and I believe shouldn’t, control this. Corporations, especially those in the oil industry, are causing the current rise in this artificial inflation we are currently seeing. As we recently saw, fuel prices almost doubled due to the supply shock of the war in Ukraine. While domestic gas production was at an all-time high, oil companies raised prices anyway and raked in record profits, all off the backs of everyday Americans. When it comes to food, our family farmers and ranchers are producing more than ever, but their profit margins are shrinking. As one farmer told me, “If you are worried about national security, wait until there are no family farms anymore.” That is fastly becoming a reality, and we must protect the family farm. Their backs are being broken by the very few corporations they can sell their goods to and they are offering them pennies for their goods, and then they jack up the prices for consumers, breaking the backs of the American people. We must break up monopolies by invoking anti-trust laws so companies cannot collude with each other, making America a truly free market. This increased the price of transporting goods, which increased the price of products. The current rise of inflation is the fault of corporations. Also contributing to the record inflation is the rising cost of housing (22.6% of PCE), medical care (22.3% of PCE), and insurance. These are private industries, so there is little the government can do to combat inflation besides raising the federal interest rate. However, we can also invoke antitrust laws to make it so corporations cannot collude with each other and price gouge.
PILLARS Break up the healthcare monopoly and prevent pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and insurance from profiteering. Cap the amount hospitals can charge for products to 20–30% profit. Raise the threshold for suing a doctor or hospital to ‘egregious’ and ‘blatant.’ Lengthen the time pharmaceutical patents last. First, we need to make it illegal for the big three (pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and insurance) to communicate to conspire and profiteer. Competition makes prices lower. Secondly, we must cap the amount hospitals can charge on products to 20–30% instead of 300%. This would only apply to products, not the employees. Also, we need to raise the threshold on which doctors and hospitals can be sued. That way, insurance for doctors and hospitals goes down. Medicine is complex; being able to sue a doctor or hospital needs to be raised to the level of egregious and blatant acts. This will also help doctors and hospitals with mitigation medicine instead of reactionary medicine, meaning they can be more aggressive in treatment because the fear of being sued is gone. Third, pharmaceuticals need to be incentivized to make new medicines like antibiotics, cancer treatments, and things of this nature. We should extend the patent life to a longer period, so they don’t have to charge as much but still can recoup the costs of R&D (research and development) over a longer period because R&D is expensive. This will make the company profitable, especially for small biotech companies, so they don’t get bought out by larger ones. Hospitals and insurance won’t approve the medicine if it’s too expensive. Healthcare is an industry that isn’t going anywhere. It doesn’t need more income each year to appease stockholders about growth. Healthcare shouldn’t bankrupt people. It should not be one of the biggest holders of debt in America. I believe universal healthcare is guaranteed in our Declaration of Independence. It states Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Healthcare provides this; improving both length and quality of life.
PILLARS Form unions. Change Workers’ Compensation laws and provide injured workers with 100% of their salary. Give OSHA, EEOC, and the labor commission more power over businesses to help the workers that take them on. Rescind Right-to-Work laws. UNIONS People in power often want to hoard money and power for themselves while their workers suffer. Unions provide a check. If business owners treated their employees like humans instead of cogs in a machine, there wouldn’t be a need for unions. The research is clear; when employees are treated well and paid a living wage, turnover drops, productivity increases, and company revenue grows. It’s simple: workers want to be seen, heard, and acknowledged. Unions give a clear line of communication between workers and business owners. The people who do the job every day know how to improve it and can provide owners with valuable feedback. Owners have to be humble and accept the suggestions of their employees. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION While this pay isn’t taxed, injured employees only receive a fraction of their salary. It needs to be 100%. I’ve heard too many stories of people losing their homes and not having food in the fridge due to the recklessness of companies. I have experienced this personally, telling a manager I would be hurt if certain safety measures were not taken. The manager ignored me and sent me back into the same situation. Within minutes, truck parts fell on my head and neck, causing a traumatic brain injury. This injury ultimately caused three pulmonary embolisms and a heart attack. I went on workers’ compensation and needed four neck surgeries. We need to give OSHA more power to shut down businesses for safety violations. We need to make complaints to the EEOC, OSHA, and the labor commission easier, because it’s usually one person going up against a company. From my own experience, the power and financial imbalance makes this process extremely difficult. The government needs to step up and create labor laws that empower the employee, not the employer. RIGHT-TO-WORK There are many misconceptions about Right-to-Work laws. Politicians who back them are often in the pocket of corporations that undermine the foundations of unions. No one is forced to join a union; in fact, there are laws against that. Right-to-Work laws empower corporations to hinder union formation and break the back of everyday workers by impeding collective bargaining and safer working conditions.
Incentivize selling single-family homes to people purchasing a primary home (the home they will live in). Reduce or abate capital gain taxes for people who sell to primary buyers. Lower monthly mortgage payments on primary homes by having increased supply and lower home prices, making homes more attainable. Create a new and attainable standard for financing for non-traditional borrowers. Create a federal property tax for those who own more than two homes. Provide free education courses for first-time homebuyers. Enact legislation that would encourage selling residential real estate to human primary owners and discourage the sale of residential real estate to non-human entities. Currently, primary home ownership is out of reach for many Americans. Even as prices come down, interest rates go up, keeping home ownership out of range. People who are buying homes to live in (primary homes), are outbid and out financed by investors, hedge funds, and corporations. We must limit the number of houses non-human entities can buy, ensuring people have a chance to own homes rather than treating shelter as an investment. We have a supply problem, so we must create a plan where there are more available to human buyers. My plan eliminates the seller’s capital gains tax when the seller chooses to sell to someone buying a primary home instead of a corporation or non-human entity. Primary home purchasers will instantly become the most attractive purchasers. It will be in everyone’s best interest to sell to primary home purchasers. With the largest transfer of funds in history on the horizon, many homes will become available. Those selling their homes will be able to pocket more money by selling to a person. LOWER MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENT Monthly payments are a massive barrier when purchasing a home. Attainable housing must have a mortgage payment that does not overwhelm the purchaser. My plan would help lower the buyer’s monthly payment by allowing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to lend up to $10,000 for the purpose of buying down the interest rate (purchasing points) or making a larger down payment when the purchaser qualifies for a Federal Housing Allowance (FHA) loan. This HUD loan would be an interest-free loan in second position, and it would not be due until either the home is sold or refinanced. CREATE ATTAINABLE FINANCING FOR NON-TRADITIONAL BORROWERS If you can pay your rent, then you should be able to make a mortgage payment of the same size. Currently, our credit system sees a late RC Willey payment equivalent to a late rent payment. If you pay your rent on time and in full for multiple years, you should be able to use your rent payment history in lieu of or in conjunction with your credit score when applying for a home loan doing this will help insulate from another subprime mortgage crash like that happened in 2008. PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION COURSES FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS Many people do not realize how attainable home ownership may be for them. They are unaware of the programs and options that would help them overcome the barriers to homeownership. My plan would create an outreach program to help connect prospective homeowners with resources within their communities. PAY FOR THE PLAN WITHOUT INCREASING THE NATIONAL DEBT There are two ways we would pay for these programs without increasing our national debt. First, some of the cost would be recouped through repayment of the HUD loans. When homes are sold or refinanced, the HUD loans would be automatically repaid. Second, the remainder of the cost, including lost revenue from the capital gains tax, will be recouped through a new federal property tax on the wealthy. This tax would only be levied against non-primary residences if the owner has more than two homes. The first and second homes would not have this federal property tax, but the third home and those after would. Not only will this help recoup lost revenue, but it will also serve as another incentive for investors to sell their homes to a primary home purchaser.
PILLARS Come together and work on this issue. Limit magazine purchases to one per year per gun (with a total of four per gun max). Track the purchase of magazines. Reduce magazine capacity. Make CCWs required to carry in public. Assume social responsibility as gun owners. I am a gun owner and have a CCW (concealed carry). I have a 9mm, shotgun, and a bolt action rifle. I have designed tech for guns in an effort to make them safer and reduce school shootings. I support protecting our right to own guns. We all know that two things are true right now: we have an increase in violent gun related crimes, and we have too many mass shootings. We must do something. These are my solutions to help curb the exploding violence. For those who think it’s terrible to own firearms, I got my gun to protect my family. A neighbor who lived behind me threatened to kill my son, followed by the racial epithets and slurs. I called the police and he was arrested. But they can’t materialize at 2 a.m. if he decides to break in. I got my CCW for the same reason I have Black Lives Matter on the back of my motorcycle. A man tried to hit my son and me multiple times with his vehicle. I escaped, called the police, and they wouldn’t investigate. I needed to protect my son and myself, so I got my CCW. With that said, we need gun reform. The Second Amendment says “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Regulation is not just allowed by the amendment — it is expected. We must ask ourselves as gun owners what we are willing to do to solve this. If your answer is that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, Uvalde proved that statement false. We need to do more. I don't have all the answers but we need to work together—gun owners and activists—to help solve the problems we are facing as a country. MAGAZINE SIZE I used to own extended magazines. As mass shootings continued, I couldn’t, in good conscience, keep them because of their potential to hurt people. The data shows that most defensive shootings happen within 20 feet, with 1–3 shots fired. With this knowledge, why do we need 20-round magazines? Plain and simple: we don’t. If you need 20 rounds to put three on target, on behalf of the American people, please do not carry. ASSAULT RIFLES There is no practical reason to own an assault rifle as a citizen. They are incredible pieces of technology but their only practical use is for offensive shooting. That’s it. As gun owners, we need to acknowledge that while we wouldn’t use them for evil, others will. And one day, it might be someone you love who loses their life because a weapon of war was used on American soil. Some will argue for citizen ownership of assault rifles as protection from the government. Quite frankly, battles are no longer won by numbers; they are won by technology. And the technology wielded by the federal government outmatches any number of assault rifles. Some will argue, then, for ownership as protection from foreign invasion. Once again, the technology of the U.S. military is significantly stronger than the firearms owned by citizens, and the military will protect the nation from foreign enemies. With regulation, we have a couple of options to consider. Some want a ban on assault rifles, which most gun owners oppose. If we don’t come to the table with some solutions, that‘s exactly what could happen in the coming years. Semi-automatic guns need magazines to work. Those are not currently regulated, so we must start tracking magazines. If we only allow the purchase of one magazine per year per registered gun, with a total of four per gun, it will take someone with ill intentions significantly longer to get the items needed to commit a mass shooting, which can help prevent them from happening. There is no need for extended magazines, so by cutting down the number of rounds, we will save lives if a tragedy occurs. Limiting magazine capacity will provide an opportunity to escape or fight back during the reload. Banning high-capacity magazines reduces the number and lethality of mass shootings. If you want to have-high capacity magazines that would require more stringent tracking because of the lethality factor, this compromise will allow citizens to own these firearms while ensuring common-sense, protective measures. Concealed Carry Permits States getting rid of concealed carry permits should have lawsuits brought against them. Shootings have already increased. Removing CCWs puts police and citizens in danger. Now, every stop is a potentially-violent interaction because police don’t know who has a gun and who doesn’t. If anyone could have a gun, the police can’t know who the perpetrator is. Tragically, this isn’t hypothetical. After a man shot an active shooter, he was then killed by police while attempting to disarm the gunman. More people are going to get hurt and killed. Deregulating something with the power to kill only helps those who wish to do harm. As gun owners, we need to step up and take on some social responsibility. I don't have all the answers—I will admit that—but we need to start thinking of solutions together instead of being at odds with such an important issue. We need to start saving the lives of not only everyday citizens, but also the lives of our police officers. If you disagree with my ideas, I invite you to discuss your proposed solutions with me. Gun safety is so important to me that I have designed technology to make guns safer and more accessible in times of need. I understand this issue deeply. We must do something to end the epidemic of violence. We must be part of the solution, not the problem.
PILLARS Move to renewable and cleaner energies, including direct air capture. Cut carbon emissions. Conserve water. Climate change is real, and it is causing extreme weather to worsen. If you put holes throughout your home, exposing it to the elements, it would get hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. This is happening in our atmosphere. There is no denying this reality. We need concerted action to stem the bleeding. Hopefully, it’s not too late. On this issue, some are worried about jobs, but the energy sector doesn’t lose jobs; they transform. The very nature of energy is transformative, and so is the industry. That’s what will happen when we transition to renewable energy. We need to invest in direct carbon capture technology. This technology pulls CO2 out of the air through chemical reactions. If we set up renewable energies and direct air capture technologies in our rural communities, it will help revitalize the rural economy and provide more jobs in those communities. GAS AND OIL We will remain tied to oil and gas for the foreseeable future. We are already at an all-time high in Utah and the United States, but we are going to need to produce even more to make sure Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad and OPEC+ know who is in charge and they cannot dictate oil prices as a political tool. With this said, we need to invest in renewable energies and electric car stations, upgrading the power grind for the influx of electricity needed for the electric cars. It will take several decades for electric cars to become a staple rather than a luxury, and this will give us time to upgrade our energy grid. As we move away from oil and gas as our main forms of energy, we won’t need to drill for it as much unfortunately we must though right now but we need to start working on renewable production and enhancing our power grid now. RENEWABLE ENERGY We need to start laying the groundwork for renewable energies that are efficient and safe. I am a fan of Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), which are currently being tested in Utah. Let’s keep this technology here. In simplified terms, MSRs like Tony Stark’s ARC Reactor; they provide immense power, are safe, and take up little space. One of the best features of MSRs is their safety. The chance of a meltdown is exponentially lower than in traditional nuclear reactors due to the material used and the fact it is run at a lower pressure but higher heat. The minimal waste created is only radioactive for hundreds of years instead of tens of thousands and its Uranium-233 be used for cancer treatment. The other technology we need to utilize is geothermal. If we tap Utah’s geothermal energy, we could provide power to a large portion of the U.S. The best part is the oilfield workers can move over to drilling geothermal wells; it’s virtually the same technology. If we play our cards right, Utah could be the economic center for energy production, revitalizing rural communities and bolstering the state economy. WATER CONSERVATION Our water sources are drying up; it’s evident from Lake Powell, the Great Salt Lake, and Lake Mead. Chris Stewart rejected the science of climate change, denying it for years. By waiting until the problem becomes on the verge of catastrophic, the cost of fixing it increases exponentially. We should have been working on this decades ago. We need to reduce our water usage across the country. In the southwest, and especially in Utah, we need a cultural shift in the way we view water. We live in a desert. It's time we start acting like it. In Utah, where most of our water is used for agriculture, we need to invest in technologies to reduce water usage/water loss for farming. A lot of agricultural water is lost to seepage in dirt irrigation and evaporation. The farmers and ranchers I’ve talked to are concerned about moving to a pipe system because water companies could turn off the water at any given time, so farmers and ranchers are going to need assurances from the water companies. As citizens, we also need to reduce our water waste and usage. Utah has one of the highest urban water usage rates in the southwest, so we can work to lower that. We must work together to conserve even more to save our lakes and the Colorado River. States in the southwest need to work together because while the Colorado River Compact allocates us water, it will mean nothing when the river has dried up. Another factor of water conservation, especially in southern Utah, is the unchecked development. We cannot keep on building when we already don’t have enough water for the people already here. We need to take a serious look at how we are building and make sure there is water available for 100 years. If we don’t have enough water, we cannot build. The unchecked building will only exacerbate the water problem.
PILLARS Make teaching credentials standardized across the country, so teachers can move between states. Pay teachers more. Allocate stipends so teachers don’t need to pay for materials out of their pocket. Subsidize college tuition so everyone has the opportunity to obtain a free education. Increase funding for extracurricular activities. SUBSIDIZING COLLEGE The current teacher shortage has been exacerbated by several factors, one of which is the unaffordability of education. To combat this, the cost of college must be subsidized by both the university and the government. For many, college is cost-prohibitive and forces them into debt. Negating this will allow more would-be teachers to enter classrooms. Teachers can change lives. I did theater in high school, and my teachers saw past my façade and knew I was just lost, trying to navigate a complicated path. We need more teachers like that who genuinely care and want to teach, but are prohibited due to the cost. One day, I want to give back and excite the next generation about science as a high school teacher. TEACHER PAY In addition to removing the financial barriers to entering the education field, we must pay teachers more. Every day, they juggle the varied needs and abilities of students in large classrooms, heavy workloads, and recently, pressures to teach incomplete history and science. Combine that with insultingly-low pay, it is no surprise that 42% of Utah teachers left the profession within five years. As a nation, we are taking advantage of our teachers. This must stop. We need to give teachers a stipend, so they won’t need to pay for classroom materials out of their own pocket. By investing in our teachers, we invest in our children and the future of the state of Utah. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES We don’t need to slash extracurricular activities — they help kids figure out what they want to do in life. Extracurricular activities are not extra; they are vital to a child’s education. Research shows participation positively affects graduation rates, community involvement, and academic and social development. We must provide more funding, at both the state and national level, to ensure students have access to these programs. Extracurricular activities benefit students in many ways: Arts education improves academic and social development, according to new research. Specifically, more art experiences can lead to enhanced school engagement, better standardized writing scores, reduced disciplinary problems, and increased empathy and compassion for others. Sports team participation is linked to higher GPAs for all students, and female high school athletes are three times more likely to graduate than their peers. In addition, physically-active children, on average, have higher test scores and self esteem, are more likely to attend college, and have 7–8% higher annual earnings once they enter the workforce. Student government, like many other extracurricular activities, can provide students with opportunities to build personal and professional relationships, practice teamwork, and build their resumes for both college applications and the workforce.
PILLARS Provide police with better de-escalation tools. Increase pay to ensure better selection. Demilitarize the police. Fund more social service response units. Require mental health services for officers. We need the police. We need reform. These two truths can exist simultaneously. DE-ESCALATION The most pressing concern is preventing unnecessary death. Let’s start by acknowledging the police have incredibly difficult jobs. It’s high stress and dangerous, and they are needed in our communities. To do their jobs, police need better de-escalation equipment. Currently, the only non-lethal, de-escalation option they carry are tasers. These require close proximity to the suspect, have high fail rates, and can only be used once. Their only other option is a 9mm with hollow-point ammunition, which is designed for concussive damage. The police need a non-lethal option that can be carried on-person. A potential option is one I have started creating called a diaper round, which I would decline to profit from because I don’t believe people should profit off life. In an altercation, the key is space between the officer and whomever they are trying to arrest. As long as there is distance, there is no immediate threat and officers can de-escalate. Police can move bystanders to safety and corral the perpetrator. If a round needs to be fired, the diaper round would break ribs, which are easier to fix bullet holes. Being a 6’2”, 240-pound black man, I would rather have broken ribs than a bullet hole. With this device, if the officer is wrong, they can be given a sentence that’s not for murder and the person who was shot will be alive and can be compensated. I believe in most cases, no officer wants to kill someone. We need to give them tools to de-escalate. EDUCATION AND RESOURCES Finding officers right now is a struggle, but we must raise the bar when hiring them. They have the ability to take life. We must hold officers to a higher standard, and we should join the states that require them to have at least an associate’s degree. We also need more social service response units. Not every situation requires police officers, especially those dealing with mental health events. Salt Lake City has started implementing teams to address these events, but the program is underfunded. Increasing funding and training can help the police, those in crisis, and those calling 9-1-1. Because of the high-stress nature of their jobs, mandatory counseling sessions should be made for every officer so they can talk, confidentiality, about the stresses of the job and the trauma they see daily. Officers have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, so a counseling program is needed to take care of our officers.
PILLARS Remove realized and unrealized gains for assets that fall under capital gains for those who make over $1 million a year. Consider tax breaks for those paying living wages. Allow both parents to claim a child every year if they have no back child support. Whenever we measure the wealth of the ultra-rich, the valuation is done based on their assets which usually are considered “unrealized gains.” These are only taxed when sold, becoming “realized gains.” Assets used to measure your wealth should be taxed. The people who benefit from this tax loophole like to think of themselves as the embodiment of the American dream. If they want to be that, they should pay their fair share of taxes. Since they will be paying taxes yearly off their net gains, we would need to drop the tax rate from the proposed 39.6% or 43% under the Biden Plan and the current scaled system (0%, 15%, 20%) to a flat rate of 25%. This would only apply to long-term capital gains. Changing capital gain laws will have the desired effect most Americans support because the ultra-rich overvalue their properties to borrow money against them to avoid paying taxes. If we tax the gains of the valuation of their assets from the previous year, they won’t want to overvalue a property or they will have to pay more taxes on it. In addition, I support looking into providing tax breaks for individuals and corporations that pay a living wage to their employees to incentivize living wages.
I’m the only candidate running to represent Utah’s Second Congressional District that is outspokenly pro-choice. Access to abortion is a fundamental right, and the decision should be between an individual and their healthcare provider. The Supreme Court rolling back precedent from a previous court has never been done before. With the decision now returned to the states, we need a ballot initiative so the people can vote on it like Kansas did, rather than rely on a trigger law forced upon the state by politicians. The voice of the people needs to be heard on this issue. We must codify Roe v. Wade because it is a fundamental right that needs protection. ABORTION V. ADOPTION Some will argue that the answer to abortion is adoption. I was adopted, and I’ve had an in-depth conversation with my birth mother as to why she decided to give me up for adoption rather than get an abortion. Her decision was based in faith, which I respect. I also respect that she was able to decide what she did with her own body. Also, being adopted by parents who are not black led to difficulties. Growing up, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I was too black for the white community, and not black enough for the black community. It was incredibly difficult, and I still battle with it today. People who have adopted children are well-versed in the struggle their children go through. When discussing adoption as an alternative, many fail to discuss the cost of adopting a child. Through a nonprofit agency, it costs between $10,000–$20,000, with the costs skyrocketing with a private agency of upwards of $50,000. While lowering the cost could make adopting a child easier, doing so could open children up to trafficking. It’s a dark, sad truth. While many mean well when pitching adoption as an alternative, they fail to look at the complexity of the issue. If you want to make a real difference, go foster or adopt a child from foster care.
VOTER FRAUD It didn’t happen on a wide scale. It would have been found. Unlike Representatives who complain rather than problem-solve, I research the issues to determine actionable solutions. Even though there is no evidence of voter fraud, there are steps we can take to ease the minds of those who are concerned about election security. First, link voter rolls to the Census. Then, offset the time frame so the Census finishes a few years before the presidential election. This will allow us to have the most accurate headcount and addresses on voter rolls. For more than 10 years, Utah has been voting by mail. It was secure then, and it is secure now. According to then-Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox, the few cases of voter fraud in Utah are often parents of missionaries who fill out ballots for their children. According to 2020 reporting from the Deseret News, the state’s top officials agree that Utah elections are secure: Amelia Powers Gardner (R), Utah County Clerk/Auditor: “Anytime you undermine people’s confidence in election results without fact-based data, you’re actually undermining the integrity of our elections … (Utahns) can have confidence in our election.” Justin Lee, Utah Elections Director: “We haven’t seen any kind of widespread instances of fraud.” Sherrie Swensen (D), Salt Lake County Clerk: “The president makes it sound like just anybody can produce a ballot and a ballot packet ... I’ve worked with enough other counties, and they’re just not going to accept any weird ballot that shows up.” VOTER SUPPRESSION The coordinated effort to prevent eligible voters from participating in democracy is horrifying. The fact that we must address active voter suppression in 2022 is saddening, and the Republicans who claim to “defend” the Constitution are actively destroying it by blowing up the democratic process. They are working to suppress votes because they are scared their party is becoming irrelevant. Between the lack of real policy platforms, disregard for the facts, and hypocrisy, they are losing control of their party and people are leaving in droves. They are willing to sacrifice your right to vote so they can stay in power. Unfortunately, this issue hits close to home. Chris Stewart voted to overturn a free and fair election. He voted to disenfranchise millions of voters and degrade our democracy. He voted to take away free agency from voters and betray the trust Utahns gave him. Every American who is eligible to vote should be able to vote. Whether it be for me or against me — that’s what Democracy is; the right of we the people, not just some of the people, to vote for our representatives. Get out and vote this November.[2] |
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| —Nick Mitchell's campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
U.S. Senate
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Nick Mitchell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mitchell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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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.
Note: Mitchell submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on July 15, 2021.
May 14 submission
My hobbies are mechanics, woodworking, cooking, theater, science, poetry,the arts,reading I believe knowledge is power. I played lacrosse and football in high school and participated in theater. In college I was fortunate enough to play football for a couple years at the UofU. I am working towards a degree in chemical engineering and have 3 provisional patents 2 with working prototypes and more on the way.
I want to show you who I am with my actions I believe that stories from others good or bad paint the most accurate picture of someone I want you to know the type of person I am, because that’s what you are voting for.- Do what is right
- Protect the people
- Follow the data
If a mistake are made on the federal government level the cost is most likely human life, so being wrong is not an option. Doing what is right is not always the easiest thing because you are usually going against a large group of people but that shouldn’t matter just do what is right for example,Liz Cheney.
I have a wide base of knowledge not just Science I'm well versed in Economics, History, Art, Literature,countries customs etc. I will not be bullied nor allow others to bullied. I won't allow others to do anything detrimental to the people.
I love musicals, I love Hamilton, one song bugs me though, its a great song, and it bugs me because it’s true. The song is “The Room Where it Happens”; because legislation shouldn't be done in the dark but in the light. everyone needs to be informed of what is happening because who it is affecting isn't just in the room.In science we deal in accuracy and precision so the more specific the question the better, if I don’t know I’ll say I don’t know, not”It’s not my area of expertise” or something that’s not true because I would be inaccurate. There is nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know, let me go research”.
"They May Forget What You Said, But They Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel" I want to remembered by how many people I was able to help, how many smiles I put on faces, or made people laugh. That is what truly matters in life that's the legacy we should all strive for.
I was raised by a white, a religious, and affluent household. Not spoiled in any sense of the wordI'm grateful that I was because it gives me a unique view on things. they did their best and this is how I turned out.
Firstly, I will say this I was raised when internet connections still made sound. Community wasn't a big option. I never got the talk about police most black people get, so I learned through experiences. like being called a big black gorilla in the 3rd grade by another kid, getting called a nigger by a grown man in 4th grade, and the list continues.If any black person were to say systemic racism doesn't exist it would be me, given I was around white people more often than black had a general disconnect with my race, I remember thinking when I was younger "I wonder when I'll turn white" thinking everybody turns white eventually because white people bruise, get sunburnt etc. I didn't get it.
I am saying racism is a HUGE PROBLEM and needs to be discussed as well as sexism,transphobia, the bubbling anti Asian sentiment (MABUHAY), or any other way people are trying to exclude based on uncontrollable factors I am a finally a proud and open member of the LGTBQIA+ community. I know this as fact because I don’t sound black, like black people say I sound like I’m white.white people say you don’t sound like a black person I was ostracized
and tokenized by by the white community for being black, while in the black community I was ostracized for not “being” black enough. we find a way to exclude even within are own race.
If I had to talk to my son who is was 4 at the time about why the mean man in the white truck tried to hit us, at least 4 times I have Black Lives Matter on the back and some people just don't like us because of our skin.l called the police and in the middle of the report they blamed me, and never investigated even with me pushing they just needed to look at their traffic cams and didn’t.
We are public servants so we must serve the public and do what is best for them its the literal job description, this stalling agendas because you're not the majority is ridiculous, the people who get hurt are the people you are supposed to be protecting, your fellow Americans.
Bipartisanship is so important right now because there are major issues that are dividing our country, those issues are widening and people are becoming entrenched in their ideology which is dangerous because entrenchment in ideology wether right or wrong most likely will lead to physical confrontation because both parties feel morally motivated. As leaders we need to do so by example. Actions show what you are truly about, not our words you might call for bipartisanship but then don't follow through. We are all Americans and citizens of the world,lets start acting like it .
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.
Note: Mitchell submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 14, 2021.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Nick for Congress, “Issues,” accessed November 1, 2022
