A new Utah political action committee is putting campaign support behind LGBTQ+ candidates, with six endorsements for local and statewide races. Founded by Salt Lake City advocate Evan Done, Reflect Utah has held its first fundraiser and aims to turn community support into practical help on the campaign trail.
Essential Takeaways
- A new political effort: Reflect Utah was launched to recruit, prepare and support underrepresented candidates for public office.
- Six candidates endorsed: The PAC backed candidates in county, city, school board, state House and state education races.
- Campaign tools matter: Funds can support voter outreach, field operations, mail and other campaign work.
- Founded by an experienced advocate: Evan Done has worked in social justice and recovery advocacy for more than two decades.
Reflect Utah wants support to reach the campaign trail
Reflect Utah is making a practical case for representation: encouraging candidates is one thing, but helping them reach voters is another. The new Utah PAC says it will recruit, train and fund LGBTQ+ candidates, with its first election-cycle focus on getting LGBTQ+ voices into public office.
Its inaugural fundraiser, called "From Flight to Frontlines", took place at Square Kitchen on National Coming Out Day, 11 October. Candidates attended and spoke, giving the event a personal feel as well as a political purpose.
Done has argued that supportive words from allies aren't enough on their own. The group aims to provide direct campaign assistance, including field operations, voter contact and mailers, for candidates it considers viable in competitive races. [2]
Six endorsements span local and statewide contests
Reflect Utah endorsed six candidates on this year's general-election ballot: Luke Maynes for Salt Lake County Council District 3, David Chappell for Utah House District 62, Jennifer Smith for Salt Lake City School Board, Drew Howells for Utah House District 39, Lacey Peterson for Utah State Board of Education and Bo Folsom for Kane County Commissioner.
The range is notable. These are contests at different levels of government, from county and school-board seats to the state Legislature, where decisions can shape everyday services and public policy.
Utah's official candidate filings provide a way for voters to check candidate details and races as they plan their ballots. For anyone weighing an endorsement, it is worth looking at the full field and the issues each candidate has prioritised, too. [4]
Why campaign funding can make a difference
Campaigns need more than a name on the ballot. Voter outreach, printed materials and field work all take time and money, and a small organisation can help candidates build that support beyond their personal networks.
That is the gap Reflect Utah says it wants to address. Rather than treating representation as a symbolic goal, the PAC is backing campaign infrastructure intended to help candidates make their case directly to voters. It is a straightforward idea, but one that recognises how much the quieter work of a campaign can matter.
Done brings advocacy experience to the new PAC
Done has more than two decades of experience in social justice work and serves as advocacy and public policy director at Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness. He also leads Friends of Recovery, Utah, and was appointed to the state's Behavioral Health Commission in 2024 to represent people with lived experience of substance use disorder. [3] [6]
He ran for the Utah Senate this year with the endorsement of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, but did not advance to the general election. The national organisation supports LGBTQ+ candidates seeking elected office, offering a wider point of comparison for Reflect Utah's more locally focused effort. [5]
For voters, the new PAC gives another route to learn about candidates and the campaigns seeking support. And for candidates, practical backing can help turn a community's hopes into conversations at the doorstep.
Check the candidates, then choose what matters to you
If you're interested in Reflect Utah's work, the organisation has information about donations and sponsorships on its website. Voters can also consult Utah's candidate filings and compare each candidate's priorities before deciding where their support belongs. [2] [4] [7]
A seat at the table starts with a campaign, but it ultimately depends on voters showing up.
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