Who is Jake Hunsaker, and why are we endorsing him for Utah House of Representatives, District 48?

“Jake Hunsaker brings rare private-sector and operational expertise to this race, combined with deep roots in Utah Republican leadership as a two-time Chair of the Salt Lake County GOP Convention and member of the Utah Republican State Central Committee. His firsthand understanding of the growth challenges facing District 48 and his proven ability to run an effective grassroots campaign make him exactly the kind of results-driven conservative the Doers Network was built to support.”

— Salt Lake County Regional Advisory Board · Meet the Board →

 

Why This Seat Matters

Utah House District 48 covers Riverton, Herriman, and South Jordan — communities that have grown faster than almost anywhere else in the state. The roads, schools, and infrastructure residents depend on have been playing catch-up for years, and property taxes keep climbing even as residents wonder where the money is actually going. This district needs someone who understands both the local pressures of rapid growth and the operational discipline to push for real structural solutions at the state level. The June 23, 2026 election will decide who takes that seat.

 

Meet Jake

Jake Hunsaker grew up in Utah in a single-income household with eleven kids. His first job was milking cows and picking corn for local farmers. His mom baked homemade loaves of bread to pay for piano lessons, vet bills, and sports. Those loaves weren’t just food — they were a lesson in self-reliance, community, and not looking to the government to solve your problems. That’s still the campaign. Jake and his team share slices of homemade bread and his mom’s recipe with delegates and voters across the district, and it connects because the values behind it are genuine.

After earning his business degree from BYU’s Marriott School of Management, Jake built his career at Fortune 100 companies — Goldman Sachs, Google, and now Qualtrics, where he leads large teams and manages global operations. His job is to take big ideas and translate them into sound operations where outcomes actually match intentions. That kind of discipline is rare in a legislative chamber, and it’s exactly what District 48 needs.

Beyond his career, Jake has been deeply embedded in Utah Republican leadership. He’s served as Chair of the Salt Lake County GOP Convention for two consecutive years, earning a reputation for running the best-organized convention in two decades. He serves on the Utah Republican State Central Committee and as a precinct officer, state delegate, and county delegate. He also sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, soloed on NBC’s Sing Off, and performs with Vocal Point and community musicals. There is genuinely more to him than the spreadsheet.

 

What He’s Running On

Infrastructure — District 48 has been growing faster than its infrastructure can keep pace, and Jake isn’t interested in Band-Aid fixes. He’s pushing to change the state-level funding mechanism so that infrastructure investment comes before growth rather than perpetually chasing it.

Property Taxes — While property taxes are set locally, the state often squeezes local districts with unfunded mandates that drive up costs and get passed on to homeowners. Jake is pushing for controls and audits on unfunded mandate bills and supports Truth in Taxation efforts that require full transparency any time taxes increase.

Small Government — Jake wants to limit the number of bills each legislator can run per session. Fewer bills means less lobbyist influence, more time for thoughtful vetting and debate, and a better chance that legislation gets it right the first time.

 

The Field

Jake Hunsaker earned 49% of the delegate vote at the Salt Lake County convention, advancing to the June 23, 2026 Republican primary. He’s running as an outsider with insider knowledge — someone who has never held office but has chaired the county convention, led global operations teams, and spent years watching this district’s growth challenges up close. That combination is why we’re proud to back him.

 

Get to Know Jake

Want to learn more? Visit JakeHunsakerForUtah.com, follow him on Instagram, or support his campaign.

The DOERS Network endorses candidates through a rigorous local vetting process led by regional advisory boards made up of community leaders who know their counties best. Learn more about how endorsements work →