Gill and Rivera lead early in Utah races

Two high-profile law enforcement contests in Utah’s most populous county are trending toward incumbent victories as early returns come in. The results are unofficial but show clear gaps between the sitting officials and their challengers in the November 2026 election.

Sim Gill, the Democratic incumbent district attorney, holds 66.3% of the vote against 33.7% for opponent Davis. By 9:02 p.m., these figures stood according to the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Office. Gill has led the office for more than 15 years. His campaign focused on his record of fairness. Davis, a corporate counsel and cybersecurity director, previously served as a deputy district attorney under Gill. He campaigned on restoring trust to the position.

In the sheriff’s race, Rosie Rivera leads Republican challenger Shane Manwaring by a wide margin. Rivera has 70.2% of the vote compared to 29.8% for Manwaring in the same early returns. Rivera has served as the county’s top law enforcement officer since 2017. She emphasized her experience in leading the department. Manwaring, a Unified Police Department lieutenant and retired Army colonel, promised to crack down on crime and restore strong leadership.

Both incumbents are seeking to retain power in offices that have historically favored career officials. The district attorney race pits a long-term veteran against a former subordinate who now works in the private sector. The sheriff’s race contrasts a tenured public servant with a military and police veteran seeking to overhaul the office’s approach to public safety.

The Clerk’s Office will continue updating the numbers throughout the night. The results remain preliminary until all precincts report. The next major step is the official certification of the winners, which follows the completion of the count.