Marsha Judkins surges ahead of Michelle Kaufusi in preliminary election results, poised to be Provo’s next mayor
-
- A Provo city limits sign is pictured Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, next to State Street.
-
- Provo mayoral candidate Marsha Judkins is pictured in an undated photo.
-
- Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi is shown.
Marsha Judkins extended her lead over incumbent Michelle Kaufusi in the Provo mayoral race Thursday and looks poised to be the city’s next mayor, based on unofficial results.
Kaufusi, who was seeking a third term in office, initially led by 162 votes Tuesday night, but after additional votes were counted Wednesday and Thursday, Judkins, a former state representative, surged into the lead with 8,598 votes (51.18%) compared to Kaufusi’s 8,200 votes (48.82%), for a 398-vote difference.
Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson told the Daily Herald Thursday all ballots have been processed. Just curable ballots and a handful of outstanding ballots remain to be counted.
According to preliminary data, much of Judkins’ support has come from west Provo and south Provo precincts. In Precinct 21, near the Provo River Delta, she received 78% of the vote, and in the Provost South neighborhood, she had 63% of the vote.
Kaufusi has dominated north and east Provo, garnering 73% of the vote in Precinct 5 near Canyon Crest Elementary and 62% of the vote in Precinct 49 near Splash Summit Waterpark.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve my hometown as mayor,” Kaufusi said in a post Thursday night. “It was trusted friends and associates who pushed me to do this, and I’m forever grateful they did. My administration has been marked by teamwork and partnerships — and together we’ve accomplished so much.”
Victory also appears likely for challenger Karen McCandless in the Orem mayoral race. She leads incumbent Dave Young with 9,481 votes (51.3%) to 8,992 votes (48.68%).
In the race for Orem’s three open city council seats, Quinn Mecham leads the six-candidate pack with 9,396 votes (17.65%), while Crystal Muhlestien is second with 9,024 votes (16.91%) and incumbent LaNae Millett is third with 9,008 votes (16.88%).
Trailing behind is Doyle Mortimer with 8,560 votes (16.04%), Angela Moulton with 8,479 votes (15.89%) and incumbent David Spencer with 8,720 votes (16.34%).
In the Provo City Council District 2 race, Jeff Whitlock extended his lead over Hannah Petersen with 2,0001 votes (52.51%) to 1,810 votes (47.49%.
Victory is expected for Katrice Mackay in City Council City Wide Seat 1, as she leads Adam Shin with 59% to 41% of the vote, and for Rachel Whipple in City Council District 5, who holds 67% of the vote.
In the Lehi mayoral races, Paul Binns’ lead over Paige Albrecht grew Thursday night, with 5,826 votes (53.08%) to 5,150 votes (46.92%).
Jared R. Gray leads Melissa Clark in the Eagle Mountain mayoral race with 4,452 votes (51.77%) to 4,148 votes (48.23%).
The countywide turnout rate as of Thursday night was 34%.
Davidson said Wednesday a delay in counting ballots came due to a surge of last-minute votes. He said 51,000 of the 118,000 ballots received came on Election Day. Each mail-in ballot needs signature verification then is opened and flattened, Davidson said.
