Utah Senate President Stuart Adams received $25,000 from John Miller, the founder of Dakota Pacific Real Estate, following his defeat in the June 23 primary election. Miller, who also leads the investment arm Dakota Pacific Holdings, provided the funds roughly one month after Adams lost the Republican primary in Utah's Senate District 7.
The contribution from Miller comes as Adams, widely considered one of the state's most powerful politicians, prepares to leave the Legislature at the end of the year. According to KPCW, Adams has collected almost $120,000 in campaign contributions from Miller and other donors since the June 23 primary election, a development first reported by Utah Political Watch.
Miller is the developer of the Deer Valley East Village and is currently working on a mixed-use development in Kimball Junction. His company, now known as Six Ridge Partners, is preparing to break ground on that project. The development has been a subject of local scrutiny, and Miller's company was previously involved in a dismissed lawsuit filed by Summit County in 2022, which accused the developer and lawmakers of engaging in unconstitutional legislative cronyism to bypass local planning processes.
The donor's business interests are closely tied to state-driven development projects. Miller's company is involved in the Deer Valley East Village, a project driven by the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA). Adams has served on the MIDA board since 2008 and currently serves as its chair, a position he will hold until his term expires in March 2027.
MIDA has been a central figure in regional development, including a controversial partnership with celebrity investor Kevin OLeary for a data center near the north end of the Great Salt Lake. Political commentators have suggested that public backlash regarding that specific data center project may have contributed to Adams' primary defeat.
In addition to Miller, other major donors have contributed to Adams' campaign in the months following the primary. On July 21, Adams received $25,000 from Gary Barnett, the head of Extell Development, the firm responsible for building East Village. Additionally, Dallas-based Dart Industries, another East Village landholder, donated $10,000.
Earlier in the year, Adams' political action committee also received $25,000 each from Gary Barnett and his wife, as well as $25,000 each from Tyler Aldous and his wife. Aldous is the owner of SkyRidge, which is part of MIDA's Wasatch County project area and has collaborated with the authority on infrastructure development.
The influx of cash follows a period of intense fundraising during the election cycle. As Utah Political News first reported on June 18, 2026, Adams entered the primary season with more money in the bank than any other candidate on the ballot. At that time, he reported $193,605 in donations since mid-April, including over $110,000 in cash and in-kind contributions from his own Adams Leadership PAC.
Leading up to the primary, Adams faced a stiff challenge in Senate District 7 from Republican candidates Stephanie Hollist and Braden Hess. While Adams held a significant cash advantage during the racereporting more than $119,000 in the bankhe ultimately lost the June 23 election to his opponents.
Adams addressed questions regarding the use of the large sums of cash remaining in his campaign accounts. In a statement, he noted that campaign contributions may be used to cover officeholder expenses and help defray the costs associated with holding office. He emphasized that all contributions are publicly disclosed in accordance with Utah law.
Despite the significant post-primary fundraising, Utah Political Watch noted that Adams may still have outstanding campaign bills, though those expenditures would not become public until late September. While his political future remains uncertain, his departure from the Legislature is set for the end of the year.
The relationship between developers and legislative leadership remains a focal point in Utah politics. The 2022 lawsuit involving Dakota Pacific and Summit County highlighted tensions over how developers use Capitol connections to influence local planning. While the lawsuit was dismissed, the continued flow of donations from major real estate figures like Miller and Barnett to Adams' campaign continues to draw scrutiny.
