Candidates running for state, local school boards in 2026
Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald
Wasatch Elementary is pictured Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Provo.Last year was a busy time for local school board races in the northern half of Utah County, with all three new school districts derived from the Alpine School District split holding elections to decide their new public officials.
School board elections in 2026 will shift to the southern half of the county with Provo City School District and Nebo School District holding elections — while two state school board elections with representation in the county will also take place.
Terms will end for four board members on the Provo City School Board at the end of the year, and all four are running for reelection unopposed, according to county records.
That includes School Board President Jennifer Partridge in District 4, which covers Timpview High School, Provost Elementary and Spring Creek Elementary, and Megan Van Wagenen in District 3, covering Centennial Middle School, Independence High School and Wasatch Elementary.
Melanie Hall filed for reelection in District 2, which is over Edgemont Elementary, Rock Canyon Elementary and Timpview High, and Lisa Boyce filed to run again in District 1, covering Canyon Crest Elementary and Centennial Middle.
The Nebo School District also has open seats on its board, with two of the three seeing contests.
Running for an open seat for District 2, covering Mapleton, Spanish Fork and Springville precincts, is Donna Corry, Joseph Earnest and Scott P. Card.
Rick Ainge seeks reelection in District 4, covering Elkridge, Salem and Woodland Hills, and will see competition from Perry C. Ewell and Braden Jensen.
Board President Shannon Acor, who oversees Springville precincts in District 5, will run unopposed.
On the statewide board, District 11 is open after Cindy Davis chose not to seek reelection. The seat covers much of northern Utah County.
Vying to replace her is Democrat Lacey Peterson, of American Fork, Republican Terry Hutchinson, of Alpine, and Republican Tracy Nuttall, of Alpine.
In District 14, which encompasses much of central and southern Utah, and a small portion of southern Utah County, Emily Green, of Cedar City, is not seeking reelection.
The candidates for the open seats are Republican Courtnee Justice, of Huntington, Republican Linda Hanks, of Levan, Republican Will Pierce, of Enoch, Democrat Danielle Stratton, Republican Nichole Beecher Isom, and unaffiliated Tain J Curtis.
