Mike Kennedy Bio
Michael Steven Kennedy, known publicly as Mike Kennedy, is an American politician, attorney, and physician who has built a career across medicine, law, and public service. A Republican, he currently serves as the U.S. representative for Utah’s 3rd congressional district, a position he has held since being sworn into the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025. Before reaching Congress, Kennedy served in both chambers of the Utah State Legislature and briefly challenged Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2018.
Kennedy is widely recognized in his home state for combining his work as a family doctor with his legal training and his long record in Utah politics. He lives in Alpine, Utah, where he continues to practice medicine while representing his district in Washington.
Early Life and Background
Michael Steven Kennedy was born on February 2, 1969, in Lansing, Michigan. He grew up in the United States and went on to pursue higher education at Brigham Young University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. During his time as an undergraduate, Kennedy stepped away from his studies for two years to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an experience that shaped his values and his interest in public service.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Kennedy continued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree. He later returned to Brigham Young University to attend the J. Reuben Clark Law School, completing his Juris Doctor by taking law classes at night while running his medical practice during the day. This dual training in medicine and law set the foundation for a career that would eventually bridge healthcare, law, and politics.
Path to US Politics
Kennedy’s entry into politics came after years of professional work as both a physician and an attorney. He settled in Alpine, Utah, where he practices as a family doctor with Premier Family Medical Group. His reputation in the community and his professional accomplishments helped him gain the support of local Republican leaders, who encouraged him to consider a run for the Utah House of Representatives.
In 2012, when the incumbent Republican state representative for District 27, John Dougall, left the seat to run for state auditor, Kennedy was selected as one of two candidates from a field of five by the Republican convention. He won the June 26, 2012 Republican primary with 52.9 percent of the vote and went on to win the November general election with a commanding 92.1 percent of the vote. That victory launched his career in elected office and began more than a decade of service in Utah state government.
Mike Kennedy Career
Early Career (2013–2019)
Mike Kennedy served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, representing District 27. During his tenure, he built a reputation as a conservative lawmaker focused on healthcare, education funding, and local government issues. He served on the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the House Political Subdivisions Committee during the 2016 legislative session.
Kennedy won re-election in 2014 with 88.4 percent of the vote against the Democratic nominee, demonstrating strong support in his district. He also drew attention as a vocal supporter of gun rights, meeting with UtahGunExchange.com, a private gun exchange that later drew national scrutiny for its presence at public events. On March 9, 2018, Kennedy announced that he would not seek re-election to the Utah House, choosing instead to pursue a U.S. Senate seat.
U.S. Senate Campaign and Utah State Senate (2018–2024)
In 2018, Kennedy entered the race for the U.S. Senate in Utah. On April 22, 2018, he edged out Mitt Romney at the Utah Republican Convention, capturing 50.88 percent of the delegate votes compared with Romney’s 49.12 percent. Both candidates advanced to the primary, where Kennedy was ultimately defeated by Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts and 2012 Republican presidential nominee.
After the Senate race, Kennedy continued his career in state government. He served in the Utah State Senate from 2021 to 2025, where he worked on policy matters related to healthcare, education, and state government. His time in the state Senate reinforced his standing in Utah Republican politics and prepared him for a future run for federal office.
U.S. House of Representatives (2025–Present)
On January 4, 2024, two days after Representative John Curtis announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Kennedy declared his candidacy for Utah’s 3rd congressional district. He won the Utah Republican Party nominating convention after six rounds of voting and went on to win the Republican nomination in June 2024 with 39 percent of the vote in a crowded field of five candidates, despite being outspent by his top two competitors.
Kennedy was sworn into the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025, becoming the U.S. representative for Utah’s 3rd congressional district. In April 2025, he traveled to El Salvador and received a tour of Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, a maximum security prison used by the Trump administration to hold U.S. immigrants removed from the United States. Following the visit, he continued his duties in Congress, balancing his legislative work with his ongoing medical practice in Alpine, Utah.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Kennedy’s political career came at the 2018 Utah Republican Convention, where he narrowly defeated Mitt Romney in the delegate vote, a significant upset that earned him statewide attention. His 2024 congressional primary win, achieved despite being outspent five-to-one and two-to-one by his top rivals, was another milestone that highlighted his grassroots support within the Utah Republican Party.
Mike Kennedy Career Wins
Mike Kennedy has built a long record of electoral victories in Utah, beginning with his first win in the 2012 Republican primary for the Utah House of Representatives District 27 seat. He has consistently won both primary and general elections throughout his career in state politics, culminating in his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.
Utah House and State Senate Highlights
Kennedy won his first political race in 2012, taking 52.9 percent of the vote in the Republican primary and 92.1 percent in the general election for Utah House District 27. He followed that with a strong re-election win in 2014, earning 88.4 percent of the vote. After his time in the Utah House, he was elected to the Utah State Senate in 2020, where he served until 2024.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond his electoral wins, Kennedy is known for his dual professional accomplishments as both a physician and an attorney, a rare combination among members of Congress. His 2018 convention victory over Mitt Romney and his 2024 congressional primary win in an expensive, crowded field are widely regarded as two of the most notable achievements of his political career.
| Position | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Utah House of Representatives, District 27 (Primary) | 1 | 2012 |
| Utah House of Representatives, District 27 (General) | 1 | 2012 |
| Utah House of Representatives, District 27 (General) | 1 | 2014 |
| U.S. House of Representatives, Utah’s 3rd District (Primary) | 1 | 2024 |
Mike Kennedy Family
Family Background and Public Life
Michael Steven Kennedy was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, before moving to Utah to pursue his education at Brigham Young University. He later settled in Alpine, Utah, where he has built his professional and family life. Public information about his parents and extended family is limited.
Personal Life
Kennedy is married to Katrina Kennedy. He lives in Alpine, Utah, where he works as a family doctor for Premier Family Medical Group. In addition to his medical practice and his work in Congress, he continues to be involved in his community and his church.