What will it take to represent the largest chunk of Utah in Congress?

I do think its going to be a big challenge for whoever fills that seat to be able to meet the needs of everybody.

From the state's fastest growing and biggest tourism areas, to its most remote ranches and public lands.

Youre getting the full range of statewide issue in one congressional district.

I'm Lauren Steinbrecher with PBS Utah.

Let's dive into the new massive Congressional District 3.

Its issues are wide-ranging and complex, and community leaders are strategizing how to catch the new reps attention to show what's important to them.

CD 3 will encompass all five national parks, not to mention a lot of the state's water issues with the Colorado River and Lake Powell, plus Bears Ears, tribal lands, energy development, mining, agriculture, ski resorts- the list goes on and on.

To understand the nuances of the district, [cow moo] let's look at just the ag industry.

In Summit County- You want to come get some?

Russ Kohler runs a dairy farm, while hours away in Piute County, [sheep bleating Will Talbot runs a sheep ranch.

For Kohler- My issues are more kind of economics-driven based on pricing structure for dairy farms.

Federal milk pricing is important, and he wants the representativ to push for re-upping the Farm Bill that expired in September, [cow eating] which Kohler has benefited directly from.

We passed an open space easement.

Basically protect our rural heritage here on our farm in our area, despite the houses moving in around us.

None of that's possible without some of the funding that comes through the Farm Bill.

But Talbot, who is also a county commissioner, has an entirely different federal focus for agriculture.

Them are the things that we need addressed, is public lands.

For the last three summers, our county has been affected by fire.

After losing access to grazing land for his sheep because of wildfires, he's calling for a different forest management approach.

So my concern, especially as a county commissioner and as a rancher was getting back on that mountain.

You have to be a jack of all trades, and you have to have knowledge about every single issue.

Mary Weaver Bennett, politics and public service director at Southern Uta University, explains the new rep has their work cut out for the understanding different issues across such a large geographic area.

It really will be a challenge, I think, for, the CD 3 representative to have a physical presence throughout the state consistently.

But she also indicate that the new CD 3 rep could find communities across the district uniting on the same issues.

Take resort communities, for example, like Moab, Springdale or Park City.

Tourism in southern Utah has sort of been in its own district, right, in the former CD 2.

And now with Park City, they could get a little added firepower on tourism issues.

We really have goo relationships with those cities.

Park City Mayor Ryan Dickey sees working together with other CD 3 tourist towns that face similar challenges.

We really have a broad range of needs as a community that tend to be related to growth.

They are looking ahead to the area's needs for the 2034 Olympics and beyond.

It's infrastructure, it's bus rapid transit.

We care about housing.

We care about open space and the environment.

One other uniting factor Dickey says they're looking forward to: Summit County no longer being split between two districts.

Thats a really nice way for us all to have one voice, to have sort of unified representation.

Even with one voice, Summit County Council Chair Canice Harte- It's going to take a little bit more work on our side.

Described how transitioning to CD 3 will still have its challenges.

Having to start new, trying to get some attention on our issues will be things that we're focused on and care about.

So, how will he make sure their voice is heard among so many others?

It will, I think it's just star as simple as inviting them up, maybe breaking some bread, going out together, showing them around, letting them know what the projects are we're working on and whats important to the people of Summit County.

And then I imagine we'll have some issues that we'll have to dig into at some point, and we'll probably buil a good relationship from that.

Harte is hopefu a healthy working relationship and collaboration will hel the new rep navigate the nuances and understand the unique needs within Congressional District 3.

For 2026 midterm election coverage, head to PBS Utah dot org slash elections, and make sure you follow PBS Utah, KUER, and Utah News Dispatch.