Legislators / Michael J. Petersen
Michael J. Petersen
Republican · House District 2
Where they land
5th most conservative of 71 House members · 5th most conservative of 57 Republicans
- Democrat
- Republican
- Rep. Michael J. Petersen
Placed only by their own votes: we took the 115 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
- Mark A. Strong (R-47)
- Nicholeen P. Peck (R-28)
- Jason B. Kyle (R-8)
- Tiara Auxier (R-4)
- Michael J. Petersen (R-2)
- Stephanie Gricius (R-50)
- Kay J. Christofferson (R-53)
- Candice B. Pierucci (R-49)
- Ken Ivory (R-39)
- Mike L. Kohler (R-59)
- Rex P. Shipp (R-71)
- Karianne Lisonbee (R-14)
- Jill Koford (R-10)
- Kristen Chevrier (R-54)
- Troy Shelley (R-66)
- Scott H. Chew (R-68)
- Ryan D. Wilcox (R-7)
- Jake Sawyer (R-9)
- A. Cory Maloy (R-52)
- Mike Schultz (R-12)
- Katy Hall (R-11)
- Casey Snider (R-5)
- Lisa Shepherd (R-61)
- Thomas W. Peterson (R-1)
- Carl R. Albrecht (R-70)
- Doug Fiefia (R-48)
- Walt Brooks (R-75)
- Matt MacPherson (R-26)
- Colin W. Jack (R-73)
- Stewart E. Barlow (R-17)
- Val L. Peterson (R-56)
- Bridger Bolinder (R-29)
- Logan Monson (R-69)
- Stephen L. Whyte (R-63)
- Joseph Elison (R-72)
- Jordan D. Teuscher (R-44)
- Nelson T. Abbott (R-57)
- Jason E. Thompson (R-3)
- R. Neil Walter (R-74)
- Jon Hawkins (R-55)
- Cheryl K. Acton (R-38)
- Calvin Roberts (R-46)
- David Shallenberger (R-58)
- Melissa G. Ballard (R-20)
- Christine F. Watkins (R-67)
- Ariel Defay (R-15)
- Karen M. Peterson (R-13)
- Steve Eliason (R-43)
- Doug Welton (R-65)
- Norman K Thurston (R-62)
- Paul A. Cutler (R-18)
- Tracy Miller (R-45)
- Raymond P. Ward (R-19)
- James A. Dunnigan (R-36)
- 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)
- Grant Amjad Miller (D-24)
- Carol S. Moss (D-34)
- John Arthur (D-41)
- Hoang Nguyen (D-23)
- Jennifer Dailey-Provost (D-22)
- Sahara Hayes (D-32)
- Angela Romero (D-25)
- Sandra Hollins (D-21)
- Doug Owens (D-33)
- Rosalba Dominguez (D-35)
Most conservative first.
Do their actions match their words?
Rep. Michael J. Petersen measured against their own campaign promises and claims.
- 2 Too early
- of 2
WaterSupport water management legislation that protects individual rights. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundToo early
A campaign-site goal quoted in October 2026, with no specific action named. Will be checked against the 2027 session.
EnergyKeep energy reliable and affordable. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundToo early
A campaign-site goal quoted in October 2026, with no specific action named. 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. Michael J. Petersen measured against the Utah Republican Party platform.
- 6 Sided with it
- 2 No record on it
- of 8
Right to lifeWe strongly support adoption and oppose abortion, except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. 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. 232.
Right to workWe support the Utah Right to Work Law. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: nothing foundNo record on it
None of these bills reached a House floor vote. Bills checked: S.B. 178.
Immigration enforcementWe believe that current laws against employing illegal immigrants should be vigorously enforced Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 2 of 2 times. Bills checked: H.B. 294, H.B. 386, H.B. 287.
Parental rightsWe affirm that parents have the fundamental right and primary responsibility to direct the upbringing of their children Said: on the record Bills: matches Votes: matchesSided with it
Sponsored H.B. 259 (Requires providers to let parents see their minor children's medical records). Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 259.
Lower taxesHowever, we recognize that the power to tax is also the power to control… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 2 of 2 times. Bills checked: S.B. 60, H.B. 235.
Right to bear armsWe support the individual constitutionally-protected right of the people to keep and bear arms… Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: H.B. 84, H.B. 214, H.B. 101.
Religious freedomWe claim freedom of religion for every citizen and expect the protection of government… Said: on the record Bills: matches Votes: matchesSided with it
Sponsored H.B. 204 (Broadens accommodations for college students' sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs). Voted with this plank 3 of 3 times. Bills checked: S.B. 174, H.B. 204, S.B. 268.
Work requirements for welfareWe support requiring welfare recipients to work towards self-sufficiency. Said: nothing found Bills: nothing found Votes: matchesSided with it
Voted with this plank 1 of 1 times. Bills checked: H.B. 471.
✓ 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. Michael J. Petersen
- Email: mpetersen@le.utah.gov
- Phone: 435-770-6925
- Office: 350 N. State Street, Ste 350, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114
Constituents get priority, so say you live in their district. Writing about a specific bill? Open it and use Take action for a ready-to-send message.
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.
Michael J. Petersen serves on:
- Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
- House Government Operations Committee
- House Transportation Committee
- Government Operations Interim Committee
- Transportation Interim Committee
- Federalism Commission
Did they show up for voters?
Candidate questionnaires
- ✗ Did not answer: Salt Lake Tribune 2026 candidate survey
Town halls
None recorded yet.
Floor votes missed
Being compiled.
Answering voter questionnaires and holding public meetings are ways Rep. Michael J. Petersen can be reached outside the Capitol. A missed vote can have a good reason, such as illness or a family emergency.
2026 General Session.
Bills they wrote
What they've said lately
All 103 →H.B. 54 Boating Safety Education · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Presents a motion to concur with the Senate amendments to substitute H.B. 54, explaining that liveries that rent boats are exempt from providing a separate boating safety course because they already provide safety information.
▶ Watch at 3:08Read what they said
You, uh, made one simple change, uh, Representative motion to, oh, can I Concur? Make a motion to concur. Thank you. Thank, Thank you representative. That motion in order, which I speak to it. Yes. Thank you. Um, what we did is we said because liveries companies that that rent boats, because they already provide voter safety information, they're exempted from having to, uh, to provide another course to their folks. Thank you. Representative. Uh, discussion to the motion to concur with the Senate amendments on first substitute HB 54. See none will go ahead and place the motion. The mo, uh, motion is the house concur with the Senate amendments on first substitute HB 54.
H.B. 204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Moves to concur with the Senate amendments to the bill.
▶ Watch at 7:15Read what they said
You Mr. Speaker? Uh, I have bad news. I'd like to make a motion to concur with the Senate amendments.
H.B. 204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation · House floor debate (day 45) · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that the word 'activities' was removed from the list of items for which accommodations will be made.
▶ Watch at 7:31Read what they said
Yes. We just removed the word activities from uh, from the list of things that we will make accommodations for.
About
- In office since
- January 1, 2021
- Counties
- Cache
- Profession
- Instructional Designer/Consultant
- Education
- BS Psychology (BYU); MEd Counseling Psychology (BYU); PhD Instructional Technology (USU)
- Honors and awards
- None listed in their official profile.
- mpetersen@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.
Official biography
Mike Petersen, State Representative for Utah House's District 2, began his legislative service in 2021. Serving the Northern end of Cache Valley, he is committed to several key issues, including the improvement of public education, reliable and affordable energy, and increased trust in election processes. His current assignments include the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, House Transportation Committee, House Government Operations Committee (Vice-chair), and the Transportation Interim Committee.<br><br> Mike received his Bachelor's Degree in general psychology from Brigham Young University in 1988. In 1990, he received his Master's Degree in counseling psychology, also from Brigham Young University. He furthered his education at Utah State University, earning his PhD in Instructional Design and Learning Sciences. He is the Vice President of LetterPress Software, a Utah-based instructional design and training development firm. Founded in 1997, LetterPress has been honored with the Best of State award and has created training solutions for numerous organizations, including Ernst & Young, Kaplan, Inc, and 4H. Mike and his wife Sallie moved to North Logan over 30 years ago, and their 40 years of marriage have resulted in four children and ten grandchildren.
Profile details come from the Utah Legislature's official legislator data.