Why is Ray the right person to represent House District 19?

“Representative Ray Ward brings lived experience with Utah’s healthcare system to the legislature. He has been a tireless supporter of our state’s Medicaid program and our services for the disabled. He has also advocated for real, meaningful change to housing policies to deal with our housing affordability crisis.”

— Northern Utah Regional Advisory Board · Meet the Board →

 

Why This Seat Matters

House District 19 covers most of Bountiful and all of West Bountiful — communities where families are navigating rising housing costs, relying on state healthcare programs, and expecting their tax dollars to be managed with transparency and accountability. This seat sits at the intersection of some of the most consequential policy debates in Utah, and it needs someone with the expertise and track record to handle them.

Meet Ray

Ray Ward has represented Bountiful in the Utah House since 2015 — six terms built on a reputation for thoughtful, substantive policy work. By day he’s a family physician at Cope Family Medicine/Ogden Clinic, which means he doesn’t just read about healthcare policy; he lives it with his patients every day. He hears directly about how Medicaid runs, how disability services hold up or fall short, and what the healthcare system actually looks like from the exam room. That real-world perspective shapes everything he does at the Capitol.

At the legislature, Ray chairs the House Social Services Appropriations Committee — one of the most consequential seats for decisions about Medicaid, disability services, and social programs that Utah families depend on. He also authored legislation on plug-in solar panels that has gained national traction and is being replicated in over 20 other state legislatures. He doesn’t chase headlines; he does the work.

Ray and his wife Beverly are proud grandparents to a 4-year-old granddaughter, and when they’re not at the Capitol or the clinic, you’ll find them doing math, playing pickleball, or debating the merits of solar panels.

 

What He’s Running On

Housing Affordability — Ray considers this the top issue facing Utahns right now. He has pushed for meaningful, structural changes to state housing policy and will continue advocating for solutions that actually move the needle for families priced out of the communities they love.

Keeping Medicaid and Disability Services Functioning Well — As a physician and chair of the committee that funds these programs, Ray understands what’s at stake when they work — and what the human cost is when they don’t. He is committed to protecting and improving these services for the Utahns who depend on them most.

Transparency for Tax Increment Districts — Ray believes Utahns deserve to know how their tax dollars are being used. He is pushing to increase transparency and accountability around Tax Increment Districts, ensuring communities have the information they need to hold government accountable.

 

The Field

Ray Ward ran uncontested at the Northern Utah convention, securing the Republican nomination. As the incumbent with 12 years of legislative experience and a physician’s firsthand knowledge, he brings unmatched preparation to one of the most policy-intensive seats in the state. He will be on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. That’s why we’re proud to endorse him.

 

Get to Know Ray

Want to learn more? Visit raywardutah.com or follow him on Facebook.

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 →