Two more candidates plan to enter 2027 mayoral race
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Two candidates — Peter Corroon and Ross Romero — have each confirmed they're entering Salt Lake City's mayoral race next year.
Why it matters: Candidates are becoming eager to jump into the field without waiting to hear whether Mayor Erin Mendenhall will seek a third term.
Driving the news: Romero, a Democratic Salt Lake County Council member and former state lawmaker, declared his intentions first to Axios. He tells us his priorities would include addressing challenges around homelessness and public safety and increasing homeownership.
- Corroon, the former Democratic mayor of Salt Lake County, announced his plans last week. He tells Axios he'd like to focus on affordable homeownership and expanding child care and after-school programs to support families.
- Corroon says he'd been waiting to see what Mendenhall would do, out of respect for her, but decided he couldn't wait any longer.
"These races are marathons," he says. "You can't start too late, or you're not going to be able to run a good campaign."
Catch up quick: Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, Michael Valentine, a 2023 mayoral candidate, and Devin Zander, an app developer, have all previously said they plan to run.
- Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, an ally of Mendenhall, previously said she'd consider a bid if Mendenhall decides not to seek reelection.
- Derek Kitchen, a former City Council member and state lawmaker, is also weighing a bid, but tells Axios a Mendenhall run could dampen his interest in running.
The latest: Mendenhall is "squarely focused right now" on the progress of the downtown sports district and "protecting Salt Lake City's long-term cultural and economic future," her spokesperson Andrew Wittenberg told Axios.
Zoom out: It's not unusual for Mendenhall to still be weighing her decision at this point, Matthew Burbank, a political science professor at the University of Utah, tells Axios.
Yes, but: Burbank expects pressure on Mendenhall to mount after the midterms, particularly early next year.
- Third terms are rare and often harder to win for most elected officials, Burbank says.
- By that point, voter dissatisfaction can build, making it more difficult for incumbents to convince voters they deserve another term.
Flashback: Ted Wilson, who was first elected in 1975, was the last Salt Lake City mayor to win three terms.
What's next: The candidate filing period begins next June.
The bottom line: "If [Mendenhall] decides not to run, then it's an open field," Burbank says. "You would probably see a broader number of candidates kind of toss their hat into that ring."