Darren Croft, a Republican and 34-year Cottonwood Heights resident, is running for Utah House District 41 in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat John Arthur, according to BallotReady election data.

Croft said on his campaign website that he is married to BihShya for 37 years and has five children and 15 grandchildren. He said he has served as a community and church volunteer and as president and board member at four condo associations.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Office sought: Utah House of Representatives, District 41
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Residence: Cottonwood Heights
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Brigham Young University (1990); master's degree in electrical engineering, Brigham Young University (1996), according to BallotReady
  • Professional background: Chief information officer at American Research Bureau (1990–2022); president at Qualint (2000–present), according to BallotReady

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Croft's responses on his campaign platform and via BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Canyon transportation: Croft said UDOT has approved a three-phase plan for Little Cottonwood Canyon, with the final phase being a gondola he called "highly unpopular." He said he would work to ensure phases one and two are "not just stepping stones" to the gondola and that each phase is implemented, evaluated and improved before moving forward. He said testing of tolls and private vehicle restrictions during peak times should be required. On Big Cottonwood Canyon, Croft said an environmental study was released in December and is being revised after public comment. No gondola is included in that plan, he said, adding that proposals must be evaluated for their effect on the district.

Wildfire and environment: Croft said Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are considered at the highest risk of catastrophic wildfire, which he said would devastate the watershed. He said some progress has been made toward wildfire mitigation but no work has been completed. He said he would work with private landowners, Salt Lake County, the U.S. Forest Service and Metropolitan Water to remove barriers and move the work forward.

Water rates: Croft said district residents pay 40% more for the same water than Salt Lake City residents do. He said the utility wastes millions of gallons of water each year from broken lines and slow repairs. He said he would explore requiring equalized rates, joining Metropolitan Water directly or taking control of local water rights and infrastructure.

Housing: Croft focused on starter homes. He said Utah has "a shortage of over 30k homes" and that starter and middle-income homes are the most scarce. He said regulations should be adjusted to make building starter homes financially attractive. He also said the shift in property tax burden toward residential property owners needs to be corrected "preferably in a permanent way."

Education: Croft said he would work with teachers, researchers, administrators, school boards and parents to monitor reading proficiency and help every child read. He said he would also develop a statewide volunteer program to support literacy.

Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign website.