Utah Civic GuideSalt Lake County · Utah · nonpartisan
Preview · data is being verified · analytical ratings are labeled opinions

2026 candidate

Jesse West

Candidate, U.S. House · CD1 (2026 map)

OfficeCandidate, U.S. HouseDistrictCD1 (2026 map)PartyLibertarianNext electionNov 3, 2026RaisedNone reported

At a glance

  • Libertarian Party nominee (state convention, Apr 18, 2026).
  • No financial totals reported to the FEC as of review.
Open compare
Analytical assessment, not factLow confidence
Overall
FiscalConservative
SocialLiberal
Very liberalModerateVery conservative

Libertarian (fiscally conservative, socially liberal, anti-war; does not map cleanly to the left-right scale)

Evidence behind this assessment
  • No record, scorecards, or FEC financial activity. Party: Libertarian nominee.
  • X (@TheLibertyWhale; bio "only Anti-war candidate"): surveillance criticism (post); opposition to Iran war (post).

Rating method

Full details below are grouped by area. Facts link to public sources; "[COMPUTED]" marks derived dates.

Candidate notes (public record)
  • Jesse West (L) — Libertarian Party nominee (state convention, Apr 18, 2026). FEC H6UT01251 (committee C00945485); no financial totals reported to FEC as of this review. Public X account @TheLibertyWhale.
About this office: U.S. Representative

A full-time federal lawmaker elected every two years who represents about 820,000 Utahns (2020 census) in the U.S. House: votes on federal laws and spending, serves on committees, and helps constituents with federal agencies.

Role
Member of the U.S. House, two-year term
Hours
Full-time
Pay
$174,000
Typical week
Votes and committee work in Washington several days a week when the House is in session; district work periods in Utah; staff casework year-round

Responsibilities and powers

  • The House shares legislative power with the Senate, must originate all revenue bills, and has the sole power of impeachment (U.S. Constitution Art. I, Sec. 1, 2 and 7).
  • Members serve two-year terms (Art. I, Sec. 2). Under the 2026 court-ordered map, Taylorsville is in Congressional District 1, an open seat on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot.

A typical week [INFERRED from the House calendar and office structure]

  • In session: floor votes, committee hearings and markups, and meetings with constituents and groups in Washington, usually Monday or Tuesday evening through Thursday or Friday.
  • District work periods: town halls, meetings with local governments, businesses and schools, and events in Utah.
  • Casework: district and DC staff help constituents with Social Security, veterans, passports and immigration cases.

Time commitment

  • Full-time, with weekly travel between Utah and Washington [INFERRED].

Staff and budget

  • Each member's office budget, the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), has ranged from $1.85 million to $2.09 million since 2023 (average $1.93M; unchanged in 2026). It pays for staff, travel, mail and offices, with a limit of 18 permanent employees plus up to four part-time or temporary ones (CRS RL30064, Sept. 10, 2026).

Pay

  • $174,000 a year, frozen since 2009; the 2026 raise was blocked by P.L. 119-37. The Speaker earns $223,500 and party leaders $193,400. Benefits are FEHB health coverage and FERS retirement (CRS 97-1011).

Sources

  • U.S. Constitution Art. I
  • CRS 97-1011; CRS RL30064 (Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief)

Compare with every office →

Sources