Kris Campbell enters race for House District 4 Republican nomination

Kris Campbell, a mathematician and small business owner, is seeking the Republican nomination for Utah House District 4. Campbell's campaign focuses on electoral reform and fair representation. Photo: Kris Campbell

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Kris Campbell is placing a bet that Republican voters care more about fair representation than party loyalty.

The small business owner and mathematician announced his candidacy on Wednesday for the GOP nomination in Utah’s House District 4, building his campaign around a direct challenge to what he calls an entrenched power structure that has systematically diluted voter influence.

Campbell’s platform centers on a stark critique: Utah’s legislative leadership has spent years undermining voters’ will, particularly after voters passed Proposition 4 in 2018 to establish standards for drawing electoral districts. That bipartisan ballot measure aimed to curb gerrymandering, but Campbell argues the Legislature has since worked to circumvent its requirements.

“We do not consent to a power grab,” Campbell said in his announcement. “The power ultimately resides with you, the people, and my duty as your representative is to keep that power in your hands.”

The campaign represents an unusual intra-party challenge, with Campbell running through the caucus system while simultaneously criticizing its structure. He points to significant disparities in precinct sizes — varying by as much as tenfold — that give some delegates disproportionate weight in selecting nominees.

Campbell, who holds a doctorate in computing, serves on the boards of four nonprofits and describes himself as a “bridge builder” who prioritizes collaboration across different perspectives. His platform rests on what he calls four pillars: fair representation and processes, prioritizing constituents over party hierarchy, upholding constitutional integrity, and empowering local decision-making.

His criticism extends beyond redistricting to what he characterizes as broader legislative efforts to consolidate power, including constitutional amendments that he says inject partisan politics into the judiciary and impose taxes without adequate representation.

The father of two daughters frames his candidacy as a call to civic duty, urging District 4 voters to research all candidates and participate in the caucus and convention process — even as he contests the fairness of that system.

Campbell’s campaign website, Kris4Utah.com, provides additional information about his positions and opportunities to get involved.

House District 4 encompasses portions of Summit County. The Republican nomination will be decided through the party’s caucus-convention process, with the general election scheduled for November.