RepublicanIn office since Nov 2012

Wayne Harper

Utah State Senator, District 16 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Utah State Senator, District 16

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
37
45 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
7.3%
Chamber median 7.4%
With party
95%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+14.9
Won 2024
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Retirement and Independent Entities Confirmation · chair
  • Retirement and Independent Entities Interim · chair
  • Transportation Interim · chair
  • Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology · chair
  • Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Confirmation · chair
  • Political Subdivisions Interim
  • Revenue and Taxation

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 45 sponsored · 37 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 151 Public Safety Funding Amendments
Appropriations · Became law Mar 2026
SB 197 Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments
Legislative Committees and Task Forces · Became law Mar 2026
SB 242 Transportation Amendments
Active Transportation · Became law Mar 2026
SB 71 Evidence Retention Amendments
Abuse, Neglect, or Dependency · Became law Mar 2026
SB 185 Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
Child Welfare · Became law Mar 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Harper sits in the Utah State Senate

Harper is closer to the center than 27% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianHarperMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Scott Sandall, Keven Stratton, Stuart Adams

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:07 PM ET

With Harper’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans95%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills10%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Utah State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Harper’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

DateBillHarperRep. majorityDem. majorityResult
Mar 7, 2026HB 539: Public Safety ModificationsYesYesNoPassed 19–6
Mar 7, 2026SB 242: Transportation AmendmentsYesYesNoPassed 18–9
Mar 6, 2026HB 514: Utah Energy Council AmendmentsYesYesNoPassed 22–5
Mar 6, 2026HB 261: Electronic Information Privacy Act AmendmentsYesYesNoPassed 22–5
Mar 6, 2026HB 219: Higher Education Civics AmendmentsYesYesNoPassed 17–3

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Harper was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024Utah State Senate, District 16WonR+14.9
2020Utah State Senate, District 6WonR+11.2
2016Utah State Senate, District 6WonR+19.4
2012Utah State Senate, District 6WonR+20.9
2010Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+29.1
2008Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+14.6
2006Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+54.0
2004Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+73.0
2002Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+19.7
2000Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+17.3
1998Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+11.9
1996Utah House of Representatives, District 43WonR+14.7

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Harper has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Harper has run against

  • Monnica Manuel (I) · 2024 general, won
  • Erika Larsen (D) · 2020 general, won
  • Celina Milner (D) · 2016 general, won
  • John Rendell (D) · 2012 general, won
  • Brian Yardley (D) · 2010 general, won
  • Brian Yardley (D) · 2008 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Harper

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET