The Utah Senate District 11 race has become a head-to-head contest following the withdrawal of Democratic candidate MacKenzie Miller from the 2026 general election. The race now features incumbent Senator Emily Buss of the Forward Party and Republican challenger Brooks Benson, according to a press release from the Forward Party of Utah.
The Forward Party stated that the vacancy left by Miller's withdrawal transforms the race into a referendum on Utah's political future. The party noted that the two-party system is characterized by gridlock and hyperpartisanship, which they claim rewards division and excludes independent candidates.
In a statement, the Forward Party said the race is a contest between the status quo and a new vision for the political system. The party expressed a goal of building a system where no single party can hold a supermajority.
Senator Buss was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Daniel Thatcher, who departed the Republican Party to join the Forward Party in 2025. The Forward Party used an approach for Buss's replacement that invited every registered voter in Senate District 11 to participate, regardless of party affiliation, rather than using a traditional party delegate selection process.
The Forward Party of Utah noted that the current political landscape shows 60% of Utah voters do not feel represented by either the Republican or Democratic party. The party stated its mission is to build an organized coalition of independent candidates.
