The deadline for candidacy filings for the 2026 general election in Summit County is fast approaching, with the window set to close at 5 p.m. on Thursday. This election cycle will see a range of critical positions contested, including the county auditor, sheriff, county attorney, clerk, and two seats on the County Council. Voters will also determine the outcome of two open positions on each of the three school boards in the county: Park City School Board, North Summit School Board, and South Summit School Board. For the first time, candidates for the County Council will be campaigning within specific districts rather than for at-large positions, a shift that reflects changing dynamics in local governance. The two positions on the ballot will represent District 4, which encompasses the Snyderville Basin, and District 5, which includes the communities of Jeremy Ranch and Pinebrook. Chris Robinson, the long-serving County Council member representing District 4, has announced he will not seek reelection after nearly two decades in office. This decision has opened the door for new candidates, with two Democrats, attorney Christie Babalis and former Snyderville Basin Planning Commission chair John Kucera, already filing to run for the seat. Babalis and Kucera bring distinct backgrounds to their campaigns, with Babalis focusing on her legal expertise and Kucera offering insights from his planning experience. In District 5, the current County Council Vice Chair, Canice Harte, is running for reelection. He will face a challenge from Meredith Reed, a local real estate agent and president of the Park City Board of Education. Both candidates are Democrats, and the outcome of this race will be closely watched in the community, especially given the ongoing discussions around development and land use in the area. As the local Democratic Party gears up for a spring caucus, they will play a pivotal role in determining which candidates will appear on the November ballot. If one candidate in each race earns majority support from caucus attendees, that individual will advance without the need for a primary election. Conversely, if consensus cannot be reached, a traditional primary will ensue, allowing voters to select their preferred candidates. In addition to the County Council races, two key offices are also up for reelection: Summit County Auditor Cindy Keyes and County Attorney Maragaret Olson. As of Monday morning, no challengers had filed against them, indicating their strong incumbency in these roles. The position of Summit County Sheriff is under scrutiny as well, with Sheriff Kacey Bates expected to announce her campaign soon. Bates was appointed by the local Democratic Party to fill the position left vacant by former Sheriff Frank Smith, who retired at the end of 2025. Bates has expressed her intention to secure the role for another four years, though she had not filed her candidacy paperwork by the start of the week. The impending changes in the Summit County Clerk’s Office will be notable regardless of election outcomes, as Eve Furse, the current clerk, has announced her plans to retire at the end of her term this year. Two candidates with significant local political experience, Malena Stevens and Suni Woolstenhulme, have already declared their intention to run for the county clerk position. Stevens has a history of service on both the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission and the Summit County Council, while Woolstenhulme brings eight years of experience from the South Summit School Board. In the realm of education, the South Summit school board has yet to see any candidates declare for the two open positions. Meanwhile, Park City School Board Vice President Nick Hill has filed for reelection, alongside North Summit School Board member Kevin Orgill and challenger Russell Hendry, who is seeking one of the two open North Summit school board seats. Beyond local elections, voters in Summit County will also participate in federal and state elections in November. The U.S. House of Representatives will see one open seat in the third congressional district, while the state elections will include multiple positions: District 20 in the Utah Senate, Districts 4, 23, 59, and 68 in the Utah House of Representatives, and one seat on the Utah Board of Education. Additionally, voters will decide on retention for several judges across various court levels, including two Utah Supreme Court judges, six court of appeals judges, four district court judges, and four juvenile court judges. As the candidacy filing window draws to a close, the Summit County community is poised for an engaging election season, one that promises to shape the future of local governance and educational leadership. With significant positions at stake and a shifting political landscape, voter engagement will be crucial in deciding the outcomes of these pivotal races.