Utah School Board Seats Face Voters in 2026
Eight seats on the state board are on the November ballot, and their winners will shape how Utah handles federal education dollars.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Administration
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Should Utah's state government manage federal education funds instead of federal officials?
Utah voters will decide eight Utah State Board of Education seats in the 2026 midterm election, and four of those candidates are running uncontested. The board has 15 members, and several incumbents are leaving or have been replaced, which will reshape state education policy oversight for households with school-age children.
Why it matters
Board seats set direction on state education policy, including how Utah responds to federal education dollars that flow to local schools and families. The board's April 2025 vote of 10-4 against a letter supporting sending federal education dollars to the state shows how contested these questions have become.
Eight of the board's 15 seats are on the 2026 ballot, and four candidates are running without opposition. Incumbent Republican Jennie Earl faces Democrat Cathy Callow-Heusser in District 1, while Democrat Kacee Weaver will take over District 2 after incumbent Joe Kerry withdrew.
The players
Jennie Earl
Incumbent Republican on the Utah State Board of Education seeking a third term in District 1.
Cathy Callow-Heusser
Democrat challenging Jennie Earl in District 1, who opposes ending federal management of federal education funds.
Erin Longacre
Republican appointed in 2025 to fill the District 7 seat vacated by Molly Hart.
Kacee Weaver
Democrat who will take over District 2 after incumbent Joe Kerry withdrew from his reelection race.
The details
Voters in each district choose a board member for that area, so the races span different parts of the state, including Box Elder, Cache, Morgan and Rich counties in District 1, Weber County in District 2, and Salt Lake County in several districts. Vacancies have reshaped the lineup: Molly Hart's selection as state superintendent of public instruction created an opening that Erin Longacre filled by appointment in 2025 for District 7. Joe Kerry announced in September that he was stepping down and withdrawing from his reelection race, and Emily Green is not seeking reelection after her first term in District 14.
Timeline
April 2025: The board voted 10-4 against a letter supporting sending federal education dollars to the state.
2025: Erin Longacre was appointed to fill the District 7 seat vacated by Molly Hart.
September 2025: Joe Kerry announced he was stepping down and withdrawing from his reelection race.
November 3, 2026: Midterm Election Day, when the state school board races are decided.
The Home Front
The April 2025 board vote of 10-4 against the federal education funds letter is the reference point for this election, which will decide whether that majority holds. Board membership changes now directly affect how Utah frames the trade-off between federal dollars and state taxes.
If you live in one of the districts on the ballot, check your county's sample ballot to see which board seats you will vote on in November. Parents who care about how federal education funds reach their child's school can review each candidate's stated position before Election Day.
The takeaway
Board seats that look minor on a ballot can determine how state budgets and federal school funding are handled. Note your district number and mark the November 3, 2026 election date on your calendar so you can weigh in.
What happens next
Voters will decide the eight contested and uncontested Utah State Board of Education seats on November 3, 2026, and the newly seated board will shape policy from there.
Further reading
For background on how these boards are run, see Administration coverage across Utah schools.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
Live Poll
Should Utah's state government manage federal education funds instead of federal officials?
