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Mike Kennedy (politician)
Michael Steven Kennedy[1] (born February 2, 1969)[2] is an American physician, attorney, and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative from Utah’s 3rd congressional district. He previously served as a Republican member of the Utah Senate from 2021 to 2025 and as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.[3][4] Kennedy was a candidate in the 2018 U.S. Senate election in Utah. He received the most votes at the Utah State Republican Convention but was defeated by Mitt Romney in the subsequent primary for the Republican nomination.[5] In June of 2024, Kennedy won the Republican nomination for Utah's 3rd congressional district with 39%[6] of the vote in a crowded field of 5 candidates despite being outspent 5-1 and 2-1 by top two competitors. He had previously won the Utah Republican Party nominating convention after six rounds of voting.[7] Early life and careerKennedy earned his BS from Brigham Young University. While a student at BYU Kennedy took two years off to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8] He earned his MD from Michigan State University, and his JD from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School while taking law classes at night and running his medical practice during the day. Kennedy lives in Alpine, Utah, where he works as a family doctor for Premier Family Medical Group.[9][10] Political careerWhen District 27 incumbent Republican Representative John Dougall ran for state auditor and left the seat open, Kennedy was selected as one of two candidates from five by the Republican convention for the June 26, 2012 Republican primary which he won with 2,586 votes (52.9%)[11] and won the November 6, 2012 general election with 14,335 votes (92.1%) against Constitution candidate Scott Morgan.[12] During the 2014 general election, Kennedy faced Democratic nominee William McGree, winning with 6,997 votes (88.4%). During the 2016 legislative session, Kennedy served on the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the House Political Subdivisions Committee.[13] On March 9, 2018, Kennedy distributed a letter to members of District 27 announcing that he would not seek re-election for the Utah House of Representatives. He instead opted to run for the U.S. Senate. On April 22, 2018, Kennedy edged out Mitt Romney at the Republican Convention with 50.88% of the delegate votes. Romney came in a close second with 49.12%, allowing both to compete in the primary on June 26, 2018, but Kennedy would lose the primary to Mitt Romney.[14][15][16] Kennedy drew attention as a vocal supporter of gun rights, even meeting with UtahGunExchange.com, a private gun exchange who would later have a presence at March For Our Lives near the Utah Capitol and the 2018 Chicago Peace March and Rally, where their militaristic vehicle included a replica .50-caliber machine gun.[17][18] Kennedy announced his candidacy for Utah's 3rd congressional district on January 4th, 2024,[19] two days[20] after the district's Representative John Curtis announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. References
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