MacPherson’s $103,349 vs. Finch’s $48,230

Seven Things the Records Show

IN PLAIN WORDSOne of the closest House seats in Utah. The Republican incumbent is funded mostly by his caucus’s two PACs; the Democratic challenger by individuals, unions and advocacy groups. Both are checked the same way. Only MacPherson has a voting record.

West Valley City’s West Side and Part of Magna

IN PLAIN WORDSHouse District 26 runs from North Temple and I-80 south past 4100 South, mostly between about 8000 West and 5600 West. It has been close in each of the last two elections.

Words Used on This Page

IN PLAIN WORDSTap any card to see what the word means.

$103,349 in 2026, Three-Quarters From Two PACs

IN PLAIN WORDSMost of MacPherson’s money this year came from two PACs that fund House Republicans. Businesses and trade groups gave most of the rest. Individual people gave about 2%.

His DEX exports for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 (DEX20260925_082653, _082655, _082657, _082659) plus his later contribution list (July 15–Sept. 21, 2026). Rows marked “[DELETED]” and one blank $0 row are left out.

A few donors share MacPherson’s surname; this page doesn’t assign relationships from surnames, except his spouse, whom his disclosure form names.

$104,441.09 Out Since 2023, Mostly to Campaign Firms

IN PLAIN WORDSMost of MacPherson’s spending went to campaign firms, printers and media buyers, nearly all of it in the 2024 race.

$48,230 in 2026, Half From Individuals

IN PLAIN WORDSAbout half of Finch’s money came from individual people, most giving $100 or less. Advocacy PACs, the House Democrats’ PAC and unions gave the rest.

His DEX export (DEX20260925_082559; Convention and Primary reports, Jan. 7–June 11, 2026) plus his later contribution list (June 12–Sept. 23, 2026), which matches its own $36,564.45 subtotal. Three rows marked “[DELETED]” are left out. The Utah Democratic Party’s $1,500 in in-kind help (three $500 entries toward the coordinated campaign) is shown separately and not counted in the total, as on his list.

One entry on his report changed: a $500 gift from himself dated Jan. 7 was first filed as a loan, then deleted on Sept. 12 and refiled as a contribution. Several donors share Finch’s surname; this page doesn’t assign relationships from surnames. A few later-list addresses have a state that doesn’t match the ZIP (for example “Seattle, UT”); they are counted as filed.

$1,534.01 Out Through June

IN PLAIN WORDSFinch spent little before the primary: printing, signs, party fees and office supplies. Every payee is named.

Spending after June 11, 2026 was not in hand.

Twenty Bills in 2026, Six Signed

IN PLAIN WORDSMacPherson was primary sponsor of 20 bills and five resolutions in 2026. Six bills were signed and two House resolutions passed; most of the rest passed the House and died in the Senate on the session’s last night. Finch has not held office.

In Their Own Words

IN PLAIN WORDSWhat each says, from their own campaign sites. MacPherson’s site has an About page but no issues page.

What Each Form Lists

IN PLAIN WORDSEvery candidate files a form listing jobs, businesses, income over $5,000, stock and boards. These are side by side, item by item.

Who Funds Whom

IN PLAIN WORDSThe same two House Republican PACs fund several close races; Democratic PACs and unions fund the challengers. Arrows show money, as filed.

Money to MacPherson

flowchart LR
  U["House GOP Election
Committee PAC"] -- "$80,000" --> M["Rep. Matt
MacPherson"]
  S["House Speaker
Leadership PAC"] -- "$52,500" --> M
  D["Doers Network"] -- "$3,500" --> M
  

Money to Finch

flowchart LR
  HD["House Democratic
Leadership Council"] -- "$6,500" --> F["Michael
Finch"]
  UIN["UIN PAC"] -- "$5,000" --> F
  UWP["Utah Women and
Politics PAC"] -- "$5,000" --> F
  UN["Six unions"] -- "$4,800" --> F
  FA["Fresh Air PAC"] -- "$1,000" --> F
  

Amounts: MacPherson’s since 2023; Finch’s in 2026. MacPherson’s campaign has paid Election Hive $32,652 since 2024. Both men also sit on West Valley City’s Professional Standards Review Board.

Grades on the Five Questions

IN PLAIN WORDSEvery item is graded on the same five questions used across this project: Power, Transparency, Financial accountability, Environmental impact and Community impact. A or B goes beyond what the law requires; C meets it; D means a key part is vague or bundled, or a public check is weakened; F means required information is missing, or a check is removed with nothing in its place.

How disclosure forms are graded: On disclosure forms, an item voters can't see anywhere else (a company, a board seat, a job) left off is graded D; two left off, D−; three or more, F, a pattern. Legislative pay, which is public, left off with nothing else missing is graded D+. Anything named somewhere on the form counts as listed, and a form not on file is graded F. (Disclosure-form ladder added Oct. 3, 2026.)

Graded from the texts and compare documents read (see Limits). H.B. 314, S.B. 62, S.B. 304 and S.B. 64 are not graded here because their texts were not read or could not be separated into old and new language.

“Money” is the financial accountability question. Bills that died are graded on what they would have done.

Questions From the Records

IN PLAIN WORDSThese come from what the filings and bills show. Each has a direct answer. None assumes anything improper.

Limits of the Record