Who is Kent Davis, and why are we endorsing him for Salt Lake County District Attorney?

“The Doers Network of Salt Lake County proudly supports Kent Davis for Salt Lake County District Attorney. As a former Salt Lake County prosecutor and Army combat veteran, Kent brings the discipline, experience, and leadership needed to restore confidence in the justice system and ensure the law is enforced professionally and consistently. He has demonstrated a clear commitment to prosecuting criminals, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable to keep Salt Lake County safe.”

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

Why This Seat Matters

The Salt Lake County District Attorney is the county’s chief prosecutor — the person responsible for deciding what crimes get charged, how they get prosecuted, and whether victims get justice. It’s an office that touches every corner of the community, from violent crime to public safety to how the county’s most dangerous repeat offenders are handled. Voters will decide who fills the seat on November 3, 2026, and right now, the office needs someone with the experience and credibility to run it well.

Meet Kent

Kent Davis grew up to be two things that don’t always go together: a warrior and a lawyer. Before law school, he served as an Infantry Captain in the U.S. Army — Airborne and Ranger qualified, twice deployed to Iraq, and decorated with the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. That service shaped how he thinks about leadership. Not as a title. As a daily commitment to the people counting on you.

After the Army, Kent built a legal career with the same rigor. He clerked for a federal judge, served as an attorney advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, and then spent more than four years as a Deputy District Attorney right here in Salt Lake County — where he tried felony cases and, from scratch, built the office’s cybercrime prosecution unit. He holds advanced credentials in cybersecurity, is licensed to practice in four states and the 9th Circuit, has chaired the Utah State Bar’s Cyberlaw Section, and currently serves on two Utah Supreme Court advisory committees. He and his wife are raising their two children in Cottonwood Heights, the community where they’ve built their lives.

He’s running because he knows this office from the inside. He’s seen what it looks like when the DA’s office is working — and he’s seen what happens when it isn’t. A December 2025 legislative audit confirmed what Kent had observed firsthand: the office lacks consistent policies, meaningful transparency, and engaged leadership. His case for this seat isn’t abstract. It’s grounded in four years of experience, a prosecution record, and a clear-eyed view of exactly what needs to change.

What He’s Running On

Accountability and Leadership in the DA’s Office — Kent’s starting point is simple: the DA’s office needs to show up. That means clear case-filing standards, restored accountability in plea deal decisions, and the kind of professional consistency the public has every right to expect.

Public Safety and Violent Crime — The DA’s core job is protecting people from harm. Kent will prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders, domestic violence perpetrators, and repeat criminals who cycle through the system because of inadequate charging decisions.

Protecting Children — Youth Violence and School Safety — Kent will prioritize gang enhancements, weapons offenses involving juveniles, and the prosecution of adults who recruit minors into violence. He wants the DA’s office to be a genuine partner in keeping kids safe, not a passive observer after the fact.

Smart Justice for Non-Violent Offenders — Kent supports diversion programs, drug courts, and alternatives to incarceration for non-violent, first-time, and addiction-driven offenders — but only with clear admission criteria, meaningful oversight, and real accountability.

The Field

Kent Davis ran uncontested at the Salt Lake County convention, securing the Republican nomination. He will be on the November 3, 2026 ballot. He’s a candidate with direct, firsthand experience inside the office he’s running to lead, a military record that speaks to his character, and a specific, credible vision for reform. He’s not running on talking points. He’s running on four years of knowing exactly what the job demands — and exactly where the current office has fallen short. That’s why we’re proud to endorse him.

Get to Know Kent

Want to learn more? Visit kentfdavis.com, follow him on Facebook and X, 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 →