House District 41 Legislative Vacancy
House District 41 Legislative Vacancy
Official Information and Special Election Process
Representative Gay Lynn Bennion has announced her intention to resign her seat in the Utah House of Representatives following certification of the November municipal election results, as she won election to be the next Mayor of Cottonwood Heights. Under Utah law and the Utah Democratic Party Constitution, the Utah Democratic Party is responsible for running the special election to select a Democratic nominee to fill the vacancy in House District 41.
This page outlines the full timeline, procedures, and requirements for candidates and delegates participating in the process.
Timeline and Key Dates
Certification of municipal election results by the Cottonwood Heights City Recorder.
November 18, 2025
Representative Gay Lynn Bennion submits her official resignation letter to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the Utah Democratic Party, effective December 5, 2025.
November 20, 2025
Vacancy notification and candidate application period. Applications are reviewed by the Salt Lake County Clerk and the Utah Democratic Party. All prospective candidates must apply using the official UDP application form.
November 20 – December 4, 2025
December 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Candidate application deadline.
December 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Special Election convenes. Eligible state delegates residing within House District 41 will participate in a Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) process to select the replacement nominee. Immediately following the delegate vote, the State Central Committee will meet to ratify the result and certify it to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office.
Candidate Filing
Candidates interested in seeking the Democratic nomination for House District 41 must apply using the official filing form. All candidates must be a US Citizen, over the age of 25, a resident of Utah for at least three years, and a resident of the district for at least six months. See below for a link to the application form.All applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM on December 4, 2025.
Who Votes in the Special Election?
Only current state delegates who reside within House District 41 are eligible to vote in this special election. Delegates will vote using Ranked Choice Voting, and ballots will be tabulated according to Utah Democratic Party procedures until a candidate secures a majority.
Special Election Meeting Details
Date:
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Call to Order:
11:00 AM
Salt Lake County Government Center
2001 South State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah
Location:
Following the vote of the HD41 delegates, the State Central Committee will convene to formally ratify the selected nominee.
Questions?
For questions about the process, candidate eligibility, or delegate participation, please contact the Utah Democratic Party at staff@utdem.org.