An unaffiliated candidate was holding a commanding lead over the Republican incumbent in Cache County's Utah House District 3 race as results rolled in Tuesday night, a stunning turn for a seat that has been held by Republicans. Patrick Belmont, who ran without party affiliation, appeared positioned to unseat Rep. Jason Thompson in a district that covers Cache County, though the count remained far from final.
Early Numbers Show a Wide Gap
As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Belmont was leading with about 59% of the vote to Thompson's 41%, according to Utah Public Radio. A separate tally from Utah News Dispatch put the unofficial results at 4,517 votes, or 58.77%, for Belmont against 3,169 votes, or 41.23%, for Thompson. A Cache County results snippet from hjnews.com also showed Belmont with 4,517 votes, about 58.77%, and Thompson with 3,169 votes, or 41.23%. The discrepancies among the reports reflect the fact that none of the tallies represent a final count.
Utah News Dispatch noted that results are not final until after the county and state canvass, expected in two weeks, and the outlet's report carries most of the hard vote totals cited in this story. The Utah State Election Results portal likewise listed the 2026 general election figures as unofficial, with the page last updated Wednesday at 6:01:08 a.m. Election results will continue to be updated over the coming weeks as counties finish counting ballots, meaning Tuesday night's lead for Belmont is not yet a determined outcome in the race.
A Rematch Two Years in the Making
Tuesday's contest was a rematch between Belmont and Thompson, who first faced off in 2024. Belmont narrowly lost that race, pulling in about 46% of the vote, according to the same Utah Public Radio report that first profiled the pair of candidates in August. The Salt Lake Tribune's account of the 2024 general election put the numbers slightly differently, with Thompson garnering just over 54% and Belmont just under 46%.
Belmont received about 46% of the vote in 2024. It was not his first run at the seat, either — he had also competed unsuccessfully as a Democrat against then-Republican incumbent Dan Johnson for the District 3 seat in 2022, per Cache Valley Daily.
Candidates Reflect on a Long Campaign
Belmont told Utah Public Radio that his campaign was about community-building and connections rather than results, while Thompson said he felt great about the campaign and had enjoyed door-knocking and interacting with constituents.
Belmont's door-knocking effort was extensive. He told The Salt Lake Tribune, “I've knocked on more than 14,000 doors,” underscoring the grassroots approach that had also defined his two previous runs for the seat.
Part of a Broader Statewide Pattern
Belmont's strong Election Night showing came amid a broader trend across Utah. Utah News Dispatch reported that Republicans appeared to be at an early disadvantage to Democrats, third-party and unaffiliated candidates in races throughout the state Tuesday night.
Whether that early statewide pattern or Belmont's Cache County lead hold up will not be clear until the canvass is complete. For now, the unaffiliated challenger who has run for the District 3 seat in three straight elections appears closer than ever to winning it, even as the final tally remains weeks away.
