State Senate primary upset in District 7 raises leadership questions for Utah Senate
June 25, 2026 | Utah County Republican Party, Utah GOP Party- Republican Leadership, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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Stephanie Hollis led State Senate District 7 in the county vote reported on the Utah County Republican Party podcast, a result hosts said could change state Senate leadership.
"She at this point looks like she's going to be the Republican nominee for state Senate District 7 over Stuart Adams," Charles Maxwood said, noting Hollis’s county totals (43.03%, about 7,550 votes) compared with Steuart Adams (34.28%, about 6,014 votes) and a third candidate, Braden Hess, who collected roughly 22.69% (about 3,981 votes) in the county view.
Why it matters: Maxwood and Henshaw told listeners that Adams is the Senate president and that his loss in the primary—if it stands statewide—would prompt conversations about leadership changes in the Utah Senate. The hosts discussed, but did not substantiate, possible connections to the Military Installation Development Agency (MIDA) and emphasized they had not verified any allegations.
Caveats: The pair reminded listeners that county-level returns and vote shares reported on election websites may not represent final statewide totals for the district (some districts cross county lines) and that the curing process and other county canvass work can alter results in close races.
What’s next: Party leaders said the implications for legislative leadership are under discussion and encouraged members to track official county canvass and statewide certified returns before drawing final conclusions.
"She at this point looks like she's going to be the Republican nominee for state Senate District 7 over Stuart Adams," Charles Maxwood said, noting Hollis’s county totals (43.03%, about 7,550 votes) compared with Steuart Adams (34.28%, about 6,014 votes) and a third candidate, Braden Hess, who collected roughly 22.69% (about 3,981 votes) in the county view.
Why it matters: Maxwood and Henshaw told listeners that Adams is the Senate president and that his loss in the primary—if it stands statewide—would prompt conversations about leadership changes in the Utah Senate. The hosts discussed, but did not substantiate, possible connections to the Military Installation Development Agency (MIDA) and emphasized they had not verified any allegations.
Caveats: The pair reminded listeners that county-level returns and vote shares reported on election websites may not represent final statewide totals for the district (some districts cross county lines) and that the curing process and other county canvass work can alter results in close races.
What’s next: Party leaders said the implications for legislative leadership are under discussion and encouraged members to track official county canvass and statewide certified returns before drawing final conclusions.
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