Rep. Mike Kennedy, a Republican representing Utah's 3rd Congressional District, is running for the U.S. House seat in Utah's 4th Congressional District. The Nov. 3 general election includes three other candidates: Jonny Larsen (Democratic), Steven Burt (Independent) and Taylor Wright (Libertarian).
Kennedy, a family physician, says he is running because Washington's failure to control inflation, secure the border and restore fiscal discipline "makes life harder for everyday Americans," according to his campaign website.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Education: Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University; juris doctor from Brigham Young University; doctor of medicine from Michigan State University
- Family: Kennedy says he has been married to his wife, Katrina, for 35 years and that they have eight children and 12 grandchildren.
- Personal: Kennedy says he was raised by a single mother alongside six siblings in Michigan. He says he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Experience and public service
Kennedy has held elected office at the state and federal level. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019 and in the Utah State Senate from 2021 to 2025, according to public election records. He took office as U.S. representative for Utah's 3rd Congressional District on Jan. 3, 2025, according to his congressional biography.
He also holds two committee assignments. Kennedy serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he is vice chair of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, according to his committees page. Kennedy says he has practiced medicine in Utah County for more than two decades and has also worked as an attorney.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Kennedy's campaign issues page and reflect the candidate's own stated views.
Taxes and budget: Kennedy says he supports a balanced budget amendment to prevent the federal government from spending more than it takes in. He says he advocates for tax relief and lowering the cost of living.
Healthcare: Kennedy says he wants to expand health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and other tools that let individuals set aside pre-tax dollars for medical expenses. He says he supports increasing the availability of generic drugs and allowing patients to purchase prescriptions from other countries when it is more affordable. He says healthcare decisions should be made by patients and doctors, not Washington.
Border security and immigration: Kennedy says he supports securing the border, equipping law enforcement with the staffing and technology they need, and fixing the legal immigration system so it is "clear, consistent, and fair."
Energy: Kennedy says he backs an "all-of-the-above" energy approach that prioritizes American production. He says he wants to work toward eliminating reliance on foreign oil.
Education: Kennedy says he wants to shift educational authority away from the federal Department of Education and back to states and local communities.
Candidate responses were gathered from Kennedy's campaign website and official congressional pages.
