Salt Lake County, Utah

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown filed criminal charges against prediction market platform Kalshi and co-founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, alleging illegal promotion of online gambling, including a pattern of unlawful activity felony and multiple felony and misdemeanor counts. Charging documents cite an undercover agent placing sports bets on the platform in September, after a federal judge ruled in August that federal law did not bar Utah from enforcing its gambling statutes against Kalshi.

The move follows Brown's earlier civil lawsuit and comes a day after the CFTC sued to block Utah's enforcement. Kalshi called the charges political overreach and vowed to fight them, as it did successfully in Arizona, the only other state to bring a criminal case.

D.C.'s 2026 general election falls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 26 through Nov. 1 and same-day registration available at any voting center. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 13; results are set to be certified Dec. 2. With Mayor Muriel Bowser not seeking re-election, Democratic nominee Janeese Lewis George is heavily favored over independent and third-party challengers. Eleanor Holmes Norton is also stepping aside from the city's non-voting House seat, with Democrat Robert White favored to succeed her. Voters will also decide council races, the attorney general contest, and Initiative 86, a proposed ban on foie gras production and sales.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has proposed a 2027 budget that includes a major jail overhaul funded by a property tax increase. The roughly $660 million plan would expand the Metro Jail by more than 800 beds, allow closure of the Oxbow Jail, and add a new intake and screening hub, for a net gain of 252 beds. A lease revenue bond of about $575 million would be repaid over 25 years, raising property taxes by about 13.53%, or roughly $70 a year for the average homeowner. The budget also creates a diversion program for nonviolent offenders with mental health needs, directing them to supervised treatment instead of jail. A public hearing is set for December 8, followed by a county council vote.

Republicans currently hold a narrow 5-4 majority on the Salt Lake County Council, and the balance of power is on the ballot this November in Utah's most populous county. The marquee race pits Republican Kathleen Anderson, who ousted incumbent Laurie Stringham at the GOP convention, against Democrat Zach Robinson and Constitution Party candidate Gregory Beglarian for an at-large seat.

Three district races are also in play: Republican Mike Bird faces Democrat Luke Maynes for the open District 3 seat, Democrat Sara Cimmers faces Republican Traci Crockett in District 5, and Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson defends District 1 against Libertarian Casey Poe. Democrats are emphasizing affordable housing, water conservation and child care funding, while Republicans are campaigning on public safety, lower taxes and small business support.

Down-ballot, incumbents District Attorney Sim Gill and Sheriff Rosie Rivera seek re-election against Republican challengers, and Republican Auditor Chris Harding faces Democrat Ali Cloward. Mail ballots are due by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services is organizing "Candidate Days" at senior centers throughout the county this October, giving older residents a chance to meet local candidates ahead of the November 2026 elections. Participants include contenders for the U.S. House of Representatives, state Senate, County Council, district attorney and sheriff, among other races.

At each event, candidates give a short presentation to seniors followed by roughly 30 minutes of direct interaction. Paul Leggett, director of Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services, said the events let seniors "connect with local candidates, hear about the issues that matter to them and ask questions directly." Sessions are scheduled at centers in Draper, Liberty, Kearns, South Salt Lake, Sandy, Riverton, Midvale, West Jordan, Taylorsville and Mt. Olympus between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23. The initiative underscores ongoing civic engagement efforts targeting older voters as county and state races take shape ahead of next year's elections.

Utah's congressional debate season began Tuesday with a matchup between Democrat Ben McAdams and Republican Riley Owen for the state's 1st Congressional District. The debate, hosted by Salt Lake Community College and organized by the Utah Debate Commission, was broadcast by ABC4.

McAdams secured the Democratic nomination after June's primary, overcoming convention delegates' earlier backing of Liban Mohamed in a four-candidate field. He previously represented Utah's 4th District from 2019 to 2021 and has also served as Salt Lake County Mayor and a state senator. New district boundaries created a more Democratic-leaning seat in Salt Lake County, prompting a more progressive campaign approach from McAdams this cycle. Owen, 27, won his party's nomination with strong delegate support at the Republican Convention. A former White House policy analyst and Navy Reserve intelligence officer, he has also founded a defense technology startup and a wildlife conservation foundation. The race is one of several closely watched Utah contests this cycle.

Utah continues to offer universal mail-in voting for the Nov. 3 election, despite recurring legal and political challenges to the system, including a recent unsuccessful push by the Trump administration at the Supreme Court to curb the practice. Active registered voters in Salt Lake County will receive ballots by mail starting Oct. 13, with registration deadlines of Oct. 23 (or in-person on election day with a provisional ballot). A 2025 state law now requires mailed ballots to be physically received by county clerks by 8 p.m. on election day, regardless of postmark date, tightening the previous deadline standard.

New requirements this year also include proof of U.S. citizenship at registration and a separate law making most voters' registration data—name, address, age range, party affiliation and voting history—publicly accessible. In-person early voting begins Oct. 20, with expanded locations through Oct. 30 and 39 polling places open on election day. Utah's current system of universal mail-in elections is set to expire in 2029, leaving its longer-term future uncertain.