Legislators / Sahara Hayes
Sahara Hayes
Democrat · House District 32 · Minority Assistant Whip
Where they land
1st most liberal of 71 House members · 1st most liberal of 14 Democrats
- Democrat
- Republican
- Rep. Sahara Hayes
Placed only by their own votes: we took the 60 contested House floor votes of the 2026 session (where at least 10% voted on the losing side) and found the main line that divides how members vote, the same idea political scientists use to score Congress. No bill is labeled liberal or conservative by us; the conservative end is simply the side where most Republicans fall. More on how this works
See every House member in order
- Nicholeen P. Peck (R-28)
- Jason B. Kyle (R-8)
- Kristen Chevrier (R-54)
- Scott H. Chew (R-68)
- Tiara Auxier (R-4)
- Mark A. Strong (R-47)
- Candice B. Pierucci (R-49)
- Michael J. Petersen (R-2)
- Rex P. Shipp (R-71)
- Ken Ivory (R-39)
- Kay J. Christofferson (R-53)
- Jill Koford (R-10)
- Walt Brooks (R-75)
- Ryan D. Wilcox (R-7)
- Stephanie Gricius (R-50)
- A. Cory Maloy (R-52)
- Casey Snider (R-5)
- Val L. Peterson (R-56)
- Carl R. Albrecht (R-70)
- Troy Shelley (R-66)
- Mike L. Kohler (R-59)
- Lisa Shepherd (R-61)
- Bridger Bolinder (R-29)
- Logan Monson (R-69)
- Joseph Elison (R-72)
- Doug Fiefia (R-48)
- Mike Schultz (R-12)
- Stephen L. Whyte (R-63)
- Jordan D. Teuscher (R-44)
- Katy Hall (R-11)
- Karianne Lisonbee (R-14)
- Colin W. Jack (R-73)
- Thomas W. Peterson (R-1)
- Nelson T. Abbott (R-57)
- Jake Sawyer (R-9)
- Stewart E. Barlow (R-17)
- Matt MacPherson (R-26)
- R. Neil Walter (R-74)
- Jason E. Thompson (R-3)
- Cheryl K. Acton (R-38)
- Jon Hawkins (R-55)
- David Shallenberger (R-58)
- Calvin Roberts (R-46)
- Melissa G. Ballard (R-20)
- Christine F. Watkins (R-67)
- Tracy Miller (R-45)
- Steve Eliason (R-43)
- Doug Welton (R-65)
- Norman K Thurston (R-62)
- Ariel Defay (R-15)
- Karen M. Peterson (R-13)
- James A. Dunnigan (R-36)
- Paul A. Cutler (R-18)
- Raymond P. Ward (R-19)
- Anthony E. Loubet (R-27)
- Clinton Okerlund (R-42)
- Leah Hansen (R-51)
- Ashlee Matthews (D-37)
- Andrew Stoddard (D-40)
- Verona Mauga (D-31)
- Jake Fitisemanu (D-30)
- Carol S. Moss (D-34)
- Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D-22)
- John Arthur (D-41)
- Grant Amjad Miller (D-24)
- Angela Romero (D-25)
- Sandra Hollins (D-21)
- Hoang Nguyen (D-23)
- Doug Owens (D-33)
- Rosalba Dominguez (D-35)
- Sahara Hayes (D-32)
Most conservative first.
Do their actions match their words?
Rep. Sahara Hayes measured against their own campaign promises and claims.
- 1 Kept
- 1 Waiting on votes
- 2 Too early
- of 4
Claim about their recordSays she passed H.B. 194, creating an independent ethics body for the State Board of Education. Said: on the record Bills: matches Votes: nothing foundKept
She sponsored H.B. 194 in 2026; it was signed and creates an independent ethics commission for the State Board of Education.
Claim about their recordSays she co-sponsored some of the most impactful water bills. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundWaiting on votes
Co-sponsorship lists and her votes on water bills are not yet in our data.
WaterSupport a House Democratic bill to increase transparency on data center water use. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundToo early
Stated for the 2027 session.
Great Salt LakeDo everything in her power for the Great Salt Lake's future. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundToo early
Stated in October 2026. Will be checked against the 2027 session.
✓ matches · ✕ goes against it · ● spoke on the record · … not compiled yet · – nothing found. Tap a row for the evidence. Full details and sources · How we score
Do they follow their party's stated positions?
Rep. Sahara Hayes measured against the Utah House Democratic Caucus's 2026 priorities. The Utah Democratic Party's own platform (April 2024) states broad values with no planks a bill can be checked against, so Democrats in both chambers are measured against the House Democratic Caucus's 2026 agenda, the most specific one either Democratic caucus published.
- 7 Sided with it
- 4 No record on it
- of 11
Courts and checks and balancesProtect the constitutional checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 392, H.B. 600.
Child care costsLessen the cost of access to safe, reliable childcare so parents and caregivers can fully participate in the workforce. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 2 of 2 times. Bills checked: H.B. 525, S.B. 214, S.B. 248, H.B. 190.
Great Salt LakeCreate policy for better management, conservation, and prioritization of the Great Salt Lake. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: H.B. 410, H.B. 348, H.B. 296, H.B. 400.
Renters and first-time buyersExpand affordable, entry-level pathways to homeownership, protect renters, and limit the impact of institutional investors Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: H.B. 478, H.B. 541.
Immigrant familiesSupport immigrant families and ensure fair, humane, and lawful treatment. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: H.B. 287, H.B. 571.
Access to health careFight to increase access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including mental and behavioral health services,… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 471.
Firearm safety standardsSupport responsible firearm policies that promote safe ownership, training, and use, including concealed carry standards. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 84, H.B. 80.
Vote by mailDefend vote-by-mail as a vital tool for voter accessibility, especially in rural communities,… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 479.
Ballot initiativesReinforce the ballot initiative process and Utahn’s rights to alter or reform their government. Said: on the record Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: H.B. 160.
Air qualityAdvocate for improved air quality along the Wasatch Front and throughout the state. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: H.B. 564.
LGBTQ+ UtahnsUphold the rights, dignity, and safety of LGBTQ+ Utahns. Said: on the record Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: H.B. 404, H.B. 193, H.B. 183.
✓ matches · ✕ goes against it · ● spoke on the record · … not compiled yet · – nothing found. Tap a row for the evidence. · How we score
Hear from them directly
Contact Rep. Sahara Hayes
- Email: shayes@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 801-657-0395
- Office: 350 N State Street, Suite 350, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114
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Watch or join a meeting
Every committee hearing and floor session is open to the public and streamed live on le.utah.gov. Each committee's agenda has the link to watch or join online, and how to sign up for public comment.
Sahara Hayes serves on:
- Executive Appropriations Committee
- Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Education Committee
- House Government Operations Committee
- Education Interim Committee
- Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
- Legislative Management Committee
2026 General Session.
Bills they wrote
- H.B. 102 Victim Privacy Amendments · Became law
- H.B. 112 Political Advertising Amendments · Did not pass
- H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · Became law
- H.B. 417 Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements · Became law
What they've said lately
All 122 →H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Moves that the House concur with the Senate amendments to the bill.
▶ Watch at 1:22:01Read what they said
Mr. Oh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Not to disappoint, but I motion that we concur with the Senate amendments.
S.B. 297 School Social Worker Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presents S.B. 297 as a technical correction defining qualifying school personnel in code, saying the listed roles already work in schools and it creates no new program or funding.
▶ Watch at 1:16:01Read what they said
Thank you Mr. Chair and committee for having me today. Um, like I said, I'm not Senator Bus, but I'm gonna do my best impersonation. Um, so we'll see what we got. So, SB 2 97, um, is a technical correction. Two years ago, the legislature expanded the scope of, um, like, of the definition of student health, um, counseling within schools. So when we made that change, um, it, it put in some vague titles. So if you look on lines 34 and 35, which are, are currently crossed out, they've got qualifying personnel means a school counselor or other counselor, a school psychologist or other psychologist, a school social worker, or other social worker and other, that, that …
S.B. 297 School Social Worker Amendments · House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Responds that the bill reflects roles already working in schools and that qualified staff remain in key roles, with less-trained staff handling day-to-day tasks.
▶ Watch at 1:19:47Read what they said
Yeah, I'd be happy to. Um, and I'll do my best, but my understanding is that this is, the goal of this bill is to reflect what's already happening. So it's so that we're getting reality in line with our code and, and vice versa. There's been a lot of work the last few years to make sure that, that the most trained and qualified people that we have in these roles aren't doing like the day-to-day. So if you're, if you go to a doctor's office, you're gonna have a, a tech first who goes in and goes over your charts with you and you might see a nurse before you get to the doctor. And so that's, that's …
About
- In office since
- January 1, 2023
- Counties
- Salt Lake
- Profession
- Grant Writer
- Education
- B.S., M.P.A.
- Honors and awards
- None listed in their official profile.
- shayes@le.utah.gov
Money and conflicts of interest
- Campaign finance reports (who donated to their campaign, from the Lt. Governor's disclosure site)
- No conflict-of-interest disclosure is linked in their official profile.
Coming next: their top donors and disclosed interests shown next to the related votes.
Profile details come from the Utah Legislature's official legislator data.