Several prominent political figures are eyeing Salt Lake City's 2027 mayoral race, with one intending to run and at least three others exploring bids, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The next mayor will lead the city through planning for the 2034 Winter Olympics, raising the stakes in the race to lead Utah's capital.

State of play: In a statement to Axios, Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who's led the city since 2020, confirmed she's "seriously considering" a third term.

• "I have not made a decision yet. Before I'm the mayor, I'm a mom, and I want to be sure my decision is ultimately in the best interests of both Salt Lake City and my family," she said.

Utah Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla told Axios she intends to run for mayor, which would make it her second bid for the office.

• "I'm not shy about being [on] a ballot with any other candidates," she said, adding that she's enthusiastic to jump into the contest.

Catch up quick: Escamilla lost to Mendenhall by about 16 percentage points in the 2019 mayoral election.

Salt Lake County Council Member Ross Romero, a former state lawmaker, confirmed to Axios he's weighing a run and has been taking meetings.

The big picture: Some potential contenders told Axios their decisions hinge on whether Mendenhall — who would be viewed as the frontrunner — seeks a reelection.

• Former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon told us he's weighing a campaign, but "... the big question is if Mayor Mendenhall is running again."
• Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who's been widely rumored to enter the race, said in a statement to Axios that she'll back Mendenhall if she runs again.

Yes, but: "If she decides not to run, I will thoughtfully consider whether a campaign for Salt Lake City mayor is the right next opportunity to serve our community," said Wilson, the daughter of former Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson, who served between 1976 and 1985.

Between the lines: Salt Lake City Council Member Victoria Petro, whose name had been floated as a potential candidate, told Axios she thought about a bid but ultimately decided against it.

• "For me, the timing isn't right, but I do think the city really needs ... someone who can execute with excellence," she said.

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Downtown is no longer just a place to catch a Utah Jazz game, see your favorite play or make questionable decisions at Twilite Lounge.

• Instead, people are increasingly choosing to call it home.

By the numbers: Downtown's residential population rose by 9% between 2024 and 2025, according to a new Downtown Alliance report.

Why it matters: Downtown is projected to attract $10 billion in investment over the next decade, driven by the 2034 Winter Games, a new sports and entertainment district, a renovated convention center and other projects, per the report.

• It describes the coming years as the neighborhood's "most consequential" decade in more than 100 years.

The big picture: Even more striking, Downtown Alliance executive director Dee Brewer said, is that downtown's residential population grew 63% between 2019 and 2025, reflecting the neighborhood's post-pandemic shift.

• Meanwhile, downtown has 32% fewer workers than it did in 2019.

What they're saying: "For decades, downtown was a vertical office park. Bringing residents downtown is changing it into a neighborhood," Brewer told Axios.

The intrigue: More than half of downtown residents are under 30 and have at least a bachelor's degree, according to the report.

• The vast majority commute less than 10 miles from home to work.
• They're more likely to be single and not own a car compared with other Wasatch Front residents.

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⚖️ Two groups are suing celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary, accusing him of orchestrating a smear campaign that characterized them as Chinese communists when the group opposed the massive data center he plans to build in Box Elder County. (KUTV)

🤫 Tribal representatives say they were excluded from Trump's decision to cut more than 90% of the land from Bears Ears National Monument, despite the federal governments agreement to run the monument with the nearby tribes' cooperation. (Utah News Dispatch)

🏙️ Salt Lake City is reducing the allowed height of buildings as it seeks new occupants to replace the former Smith Ballpark, from 140 feet to 95 feet. (KSL)

• Neighbors worried larger buildings would create a heat island.

📚 After Utah officials banned a collection of Stephen King's stories from public schools, the author took to X to ask, "What's wrong with these people?" (ABC 4)

About 88,500 people are now serving full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a record high, the Utah-based faith announced this week.

• The previous record of just over 88,000 full-time missionaries was set in 2014.

By the numbers: That's roughly the population of Ogden serving across the world.

The big picture: Church leaders attribute the increase to the first cohort of 18-year-old women going on missions.

• The church lowered the minimum age for women missionaries from 19 to 18 last year, matching it with the age requirement for men.

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What's the best cheeseburger in Utah?

The Utah Beef Council has selected 10 finalists and is accepting votes all month in its Utah Cheeseburger Battle.

• The winner will be crowned in August after judges taste test the field y'all winnowed.

📬 Tell us: Hit reply to this email and let us know which burger should win — or which champion sammy the Beef Council overlooked