Jesse West, a Salt Lake City attorney running as a Libertarian, wants to represent Utah's 1st Congressional District in Congress.
West faces Republican Riley Owen, Democrat Ben McAdams and independent Elias Henry Montgomery in the Nov. 3 general election.
Candidate information
- Party: Libertarian
- Age: 30
- Residence: Salt Lake City
- Education: High school diploma, Cleveland High School (2013); bachelor of arts in history, University of Tennessee; juris doctor, Lincoln Memorial University
- Profession: Attorney in private practice
- Party role: Chair, Salt Lake City Libertarian Party
West said on his Libertarian Party page that he grew up in a religious community in Tennessee and was raised Baptist.
On his campaign website, he said he began visiting Utah in 2018 to ski and moved to the state after graduating. He described himself as a Brighton season pass holder and family law practitioner.
Experience and public service
West has worked as an associate attorney at three firms, according to Ballotpedia: Jess Couser Family Law, Cowdin and Gatewood, and Long Okura, P.C. Ballotpedia also lists him as the owner of Husky Hemp Farm.
He is an attorney in private practice, according to BallotReady. West said he serves as chair of the Salt Lake City Libertarian Party.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from West's campaign platform and his BallotReady questionnaire responses. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.
Healthcare: West said he would require up-front pricing from every hospital and provider. He said he supports repealing certificate-of-need laws that block new clinics from competing and letting people buy health insurance across state lines.
He also said he would cut FDA requirements he said keep cheaper generics off shelves and expand tax-free health savings accounts. West said he would target pharmacy benefit managers and insurers he called "government-protected middlemen."
Taxes and budget: West said he would simplify the tax code. He said he would lower rates across the board and end corporate subsidies and industry-specific tax breaks.
Criminal justice: West said he would end mandatory minimum sentences and restore judicial discretion. He said he supports abolishing the federal death penalty and expanding access to DNA testing and post-conviction review.
He also said he would reform prosecutorial misconduct protections and invest in rehabilitation programs. West said he would expunge all federal cannabis convictions and release nonviolent offenders.
Immigration: West said he supports open borders for labor, ideas and goods. He said he would create straightforward pathways to citizenship and give businesses access to workers without bureaucratic barriers.
He said he would manage local resources so both residents and new arrivals get fair access without overwhelming services. He also said he would redirect spending on detention, walls and deportation to other priorities.
Public lands and environment: West said he would expand protections for climbing, hiking and camping access. He said he supports shifting environmental management authority to states and local communities.
He also said he would end taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel extraction on public lands and streamline permitting for renewable energy projects.
The race has four candidates. Candidate responses were collected from West's campaign website and his BallotReady questionnaire. The Millcreek Times did not interview the candidate for this profile.
