Summary

Michael Steven Kennedy (born February 2, 1969) is an American physician, attorney, and politician. He has served as a Republican member of the Utah Senate, representing District 21 since 2023. Prior to redistricting he represented District 14 starting in 2021.

He previously served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. 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.

OnAir Post: Mike Kennedy UT-03

About

Source: Campaign Site

Mike Kennedy UT-03 1We need representatives in Washington who understand that standing on principle is as crucial as the ability to effectively work toward common goals. Mike Kennedy represents both the conservative leadership and the civility Washington is lacking to get results for our families. Mike is committed to bringing principled, results-driven leadership to the forefront and putting Utahns ahead of special interests.

As a family physician, attorney, business owner, and father, Mike Kennedy has seen up close how the failure of Washington to control inflation, secure our border, or even pass a budget makes life harder for everyday Americans. As a legislator, serving in Utah’s part-time legislature, Mike Kennedy has been a conservative advocate for fiscal responsibility, limited government, and safeguarding individual liberties. His legislative achievements include working with others to cut taxes and balance the budget, while spearheading multiple efforts to make government more efficient and protecting the most vulnerable in society.

As a state senator, Mike is respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for his ability to listen and present thoughtful, conservative solutions to complex problems. Mike understands that standing on principle while getting things done is more important than just grabbing headlines.

No stranger to hard work, Mike grew up in a single-parent household, working to put himself through college at BYU and later medical school and law school. Today, Mike works as a family doctor in Lindon and volunteers his time providing free medical care to uninsured Utah residents at the Provo Volunteer Care Clinic. He is a dedicated husband to his wife of 31 years, Katrina, a father of eight, and a grandfather of nine. Mike’s diverse and unique expertise and his commitment to family values are the cornerstones of his approach to public service and making America a place where all can succeed.

Web Links

Politics

Source: Wikipedia

When 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.

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.

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.

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.

Kennedy announced his candidacy for Utah’s 3rd congressional district on January 4th, 2024, two days after the districts Representative John Curtis announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

Finances

Source: Vote Smart

New Legislation

Issues

Boosting Economic Growth for Families and Businesses

Addressing Inflation and Making Life More Affordable for Utahns: Amid rising inflation and escalating living costs, Mike is committed to taking action to help curb these trends and make life more affordable for Utah’s families and businesses. By fostering economic growth, advocating for sensible tax policies, and supporting energy independence, Mike aims to create a stable economic environment that counters inflation and keeps the cost of living in check for our families.

Cutting Through Bureaucracy and Red Tape: Mike will work to free job creators from the heavy load of unnecessary regulations. He’s been in the trenches, working hard to trim down rules that choke innovation and growth. Understanding the importance of fostering an innovative business environment, Mike supported and helped pass the pioneering sandbox legislation in Utah, allowing startups to navigate regulatory hurdles more easily. His goal is crystal clear – create a thriving environment where businesses can easily grow, innovate, and generate good-paying jobs for Utahns.

Advocating for Tax Relief for Everyone: Mike’s efforts with his colleagues in the Utah state legislature have led to significant tax cuts, putting over a billion dollars back into the pockets of Utah families and businesses. Mike champions lower taxes not just to spur economic growth, but to ensure the tax code is fair and straightforward. He is firmly against letting foreign-owned companies benefit from U.S. tax incentives, ensuring those dollars support American growth first and foremost.

Supporting Small Business: From his own experience as a small business owner with a large family, Mike understands the day-to-day challenges people face. He’s committed to easing these burdens through tax and regulatory relief for small businesses and advocating for energy policies that lead to lower costs and a stronger, independent economy. Mike’s life as a doctor, attorney, legislator, and father to a large family has fine-tuned his ability to make careful, thoughtful decisions about resources, a skill he’s eager to use to benefit Utah’s hardworking families.

Ensuring Border Security and Improving Legal Immigration

Securing Our Borders: Mike Kennedy is focused on completing the border wall and using the latest surveillance tech to keep our borders protected. He will work to ensure our border is secure and the immigration system works the way it should—keeping us safe while respecting the law.

Backing Our Border Patrol: Mike is committed to making sure our border patrol and law enforcement are fully equipped with the equipment, technology, staffing, and funding they need to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. He supports strengthening their capabilities to ensure our borders remain secure.

Improving Legal Immigration: As a first-generation American, Mike values the promise of America. After securing our border, Mike will work to improve and streamline the legal immigration process for law-abiding individuals to contribute to our country and share in the American dream.

Putting Utah Ahead of Special Interests

Prioritizing Utah’s Families, Businesses, and Communities: Mike will always place the interests of Utah above all, focusing on policies that support the state’s families, enhance local businesses, and strengthen communities. His dedication to principled leadership is centered on representing Utah’s values and needs in Washington, D.C., free from the sway of external pressures and interests.

Passing Term Limits and Reducing Lobbyist Power: Mike will champion the passage of term limits for Congress to foster fresh perspectives and prevent career politicians from prioritizing their tenure over the people’s needs. He also proposes stricter regulations on lobbying activities, particularly targeting the influence of lobbyists representing foreign and special interests, to ensure policy-making serves the public good.

Restoring Integrity and Accountability to Washington: Mike is steadfast in his commitment to ethical governance, targeting significant ethics reforms to lessen the grip of special interests on our political system. He will advocate for a mandatory cooling-off period for lawmakers before transitioning into lobbying roles and insists on complete transparency in congressional stock trading, ensuring that the focus of elected officials remains on the needs and welfare of Utahns and Americans, not the agendas of special interests.

Reducing Federal Overreach and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility

Tackling Wasteful Spending and National Debt: Mike Kennedy is on a mission to confront the skyrocketing national debt, now over $34 trillion, head-on. He’s advocating for cuts in wasteful spending and pushing for a leaner, more accountable government by advocating for single-subject legislation. Mike supports rolling back discretionary spending to pre-pandemic levels, freezing it at those levels to make thoughtful decisions about where money should go, and ensuring any future increases are kept below inflation. Additionally, Mike supports a Balanced Budget Amendment, emphasizing it’s not just policy but a principle, to ensure the government can’t spend more than it takes in. This approach isn’t just about saving dollars—it’s about saving the future of our economy.

Cutting Through the Nonsense: With years of experience balancing Utah’s budget and delivering tax cuts to Utah residents, Mike has seen firsthand how a disciplined fiscal approach can lead to prosperity. He’s ready to take this discipline to Washington, cutting through the red tape of continuing resolutions and pork-filled omnibus bills. Mike’s message is clear: It’s time to get serious about our nation’s budgeting process, making it more transparent, more deliberate, and more about the people it’s supposed to serve.

Ensuring Regulatory Accountability: Mike is an advocate for the REINS Act, which demands major regulations get a green light from Congress before they can take effect. This policy is about bringing power back to the people’s representatives and ensuring big decisions that affect the economy and individual freedoms are made openly and democratically. Mike is committed to ensuring the rules we live by are fair, transparent, and accountable to the American public.

Unlocking Federal Lands to Combat Housing Shortages: Mike Kennedy is dedicated to working alongside Utah’s delegation to pass the Helping Open Underutilized Space to Ensure Shelter Act (HOUSES Act), a strategic free-market approach to the national housing shortage. This critical legislation will utilize select federal lands—excluding national parks and protected areas—to increase the availability of affordable housing for young families and seniors on fixed incomes. By championing the HOUSES Act, Mike is committed to empowering state and local governments, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and promoting local solutions to make life more affordable in Utah. This collaboration is a cornerstone of Mike’s vision for a prosperous Utah, where federal resources are leveraged in a way that meets the community’s needs, ensuring housing is more accessible and affordable through wise and conservative governance.

Safeguarding Freedom, Life, and Utah’s Public Lands

Supporting the Second Amendment: As a legislator, Mike Kennedy has a 100% Second Amendment voting record and he firmly upholds the right of every law-abiding citizen to keep and bear arms, recognizing it as a foundational element of American freedom and a critical component of personal and community security.

Defending Free Speech and Religious Liberty: Mike stands strongly in support of both free speech and religious freedom, recognizing these rights as foundational to a thriving democracy. He is committed to ensuring individuals can express their beliefs and ideas freely, without fear of censorship or persecution.

Protecting the Right to Life: With a profound respect for the sanctity of life, Mike has a 100% pro-life voting record and champions policies that protect the vulnerable and affirm the value of life at all stages, from conception to a natural end.

Demanding Local Control of Utah’s Public Lands: Recognizing that over 65% of Utah’s lands are under federal control, Mike advocates for a more localized approach to land management. He supports reforms to the Antiquities Act that would ensure local communities, farmers, and ranchers have a greater say in the stewardship of these lands. Mike is committed to the idea of transferring appropriate federal lands to state and private management, believing that those who live closest to these lands are best positioned to oversee their sustainable use and preservation. Furthermore, Mike opposes foreign ownership of American lands, especially by countries with adversarial positions, to safeguard our national security and the interests of local communities.

Achieving American Energy Independence and Dominance

Eliminating Foreign Oil Dependence: Mike will prioritize eliminating America’s reliance on foreign oil, enhancing national security by bolstering our energy independence. His policies aim to strengthen America’s geopolitical stance and ensure a stable energy supply.

Boosting Domestic Energy Production: Mike is committed to expanding domestic fossil fuel production, driving down energy costs, and creating jobs. To facilitate the swift development of energy infrastructure, Mike will champion the simplification and modernization of the energy permitting process and expand federal land leases for energy development. This approach not only supports the American middle class, but also solidifies our energy independence, contributing significantly to our national security and economic prosperity.

Replenishing Strategic Energy Reserves: Mike advocates for policies that increase federal land leasing for energy production, especially in response to the depletion of strategic reserves. This strategy ensures America maintains robust energy reserves, safeguarding against future vulnerabilities.

Leveraging Free Market Principles to Promote Renewable Energy: Mike is also committed to enhancing America’s energy independence by leveraging free market principles to promote the growth of renewable energy. By advocating for the removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers and government picking winners and losers, he aims to foster a competitive environment where renewable energy technologies can thrive on merit and innovation.

Healthcare Reform That Prioritizes Patients

Expanding Health Savings Accounts: Mike will push to give families and individuals more control over their healthcare spending by expanding HSAs, FSAs, QSEHRAs, and additional solutions that allow individuals to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical expenses. It’s about making healthcare more affordable and putting decisions back in the hands of patients.

Increasing Cost Transparency and Competition: Mike will use his unique experience as a Doctor, Attorney, and Conservative Legislator, to help cut through the confusion in healthcare pricing. By increasing transparency and competition among providers and insurers, Mike aims to lower costs and improve the quality of care for everyone.

Boosting Telehealth Services: Understanding the importance of access to care, Mike champions expanding the option of telehealth services. This is especially crucial for improving healthcare access in underserved areas, making sure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it.

Safeguarding Patient Privacy: In today’s digital world, Mike takes patient privacy seriously. He’s committed to enforcing strict protections against data breaches, ensuring personal health information stays secure.

Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable: Mike will focus on tackling high prescription costs head-on through free-market solutions. He supports fostering competition and increasing the availability of generic drugs to make life-saving medications accessible and affordable for all. Mike also supports letting patients purchase prescriptions from other countries when it’s more affordable.

Restoring Educational Control to States and Local Communities

Removing Bureaucratic Control to Improve Education: Mike is dedicated to shifting educational authority away from federal bureaucrats at the Department of Education back to where it belongs: with the states, and, more importantly, with Utah’s own communities.

Directing Funds to Classrooms: Mike advocates for a streamlined approach to educational funding, aiming to cut through federal bureaucracy. His vision focuses on ensuring educational funds are allocated directly to Utah’s classrooms, providing the necessary support to both students and teachers to foster a high-quality educational environment.

Empowering Parents and Educators: Central to Mike’s educational philosophy is the belief that those who are closest to the students—parents, teachers, and local school boards—hold the deepest understanding of the students’ educational needs. He proposes strengthening their capacity to make decisions, offering them the flexibility to develop and implement educational strategies that best prepare students for a range of successful futures.

More Information

Wikipedia


This article is about the Utah legislator. For other people with the same name, see Michael Kennedy (disambiguation).

Michael Steven Kennedy[1] (born February 2, 1969)[2] is an American physician, attorney, and politician. He has served as a Republican member of the Utah Senate, representing District 21 since 2023. Prior to redistricting he represented District 14 starting in 2021. He previously served 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 career

Kennedy 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 career

When 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 districts Representative John Curtis announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

References

  1. ^ “Mike Kennedy’s Biography”. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  2. ^ https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/242992/Michael_Stephen_Kennedy.html
  3. ^ “Michael S. Kennedy (R)”. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  4. ^ “Michael S. Kennedy”. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  5. ^ “Mitt Romney wins the GOP nomination in Utah’s U.S. Senate race”. The Salt Lake Tribune. June 26, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  6. ^ “Election Results”. electionresults.utah.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  7. ^ Tomco, Brigham; Seariac, Hanna (April 27, 2024). “State Sen. Mike Kennedy wins 3rd Congressional District GOP nomination after 6 rounds of voting”. Deseret News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Kennedy campaign bio
  9. ^ “Conflict of Interest Form” (PDF). Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  10. ^ “Michael S. Kennedy, M.D., J.D.” Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Health Care. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  11. ^ “2012 Primary Canvass Reports”. Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  12. ^ “2012 General Canvass Report”. Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  13. ^ “Committees”. le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  14. ^ “Mitt Romney fails to secure Utah GOP nomination, will face primary | CNN Politics”. CNN. 22 April 2018.
  15. ^ “Mitt Romney comes in second place at Utah GOP convention, forced into primary”. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  16. ^ “Utah Republican delegates force Mitt Romney into a primary election with state lawmaker Mike Kennedy in the race for the U.S. Senate”. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  17. ^ “Gehrke: The guy behind Utah’s school safety effort embraces the gun fringe, oh, and he’s also running for Senate”.
  18. ^ “Members of Utah gun group detained in Chicago during ‘March For Our Lives’ tour”.
  19. ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger; Jan. 4, KSL com | Posted-; P.m, 2024 at 2:35. “State Sen. Mike Kennedy joins campaign for Rep. John Curtis’ 3rd District seat”. www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ “US Rep. John Curtis announces Senate campaign to replace Sen. Mitt Romney”. heraldextra.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah’s 3rd congressional district
Taking office 2025		Elect


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Kennedy_(politician)