An Open Seat, Three Very Different Campaigns

Five Things the Records Show

IN PLAIN WORDSNobody in this race has been a state senator. One is a city council member with a large campaign, one is a first-time Forward Party candidate, and one has raised very little.

Words Used on This Page

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

A Large, Mostly Individual Campaign

IN PLAIN WORDSCatten raised the most money by far. Most came from people, much of it local. She spent most of it on one consulting firm during the primary.

Her DEX export (Convention and Primary reports, 1/26–6/11/26) plus her itemized contributions for 6/12–9/23/26. Spending after June 11 is not in hand.

Other paid vendors include Tissot Solutions ($6,345.08, a fundraising and compliance firm that also works for Sen. Karen Kwan), Apollo Political ($2,500) and BW Productions ($2,000). Thirteen contribution rows are marked “[DELETED]” with no details.

Half the Money From Out of State

IN PLAIN WORDSSmith raised a mid-sized amount, much of it from Michigan and other states. His biggest cost was campaign merchandise.

His DEX export (Convention and Primary reports, 1/12–6/11/26) plus itemized contributions 6/12–9/11/26. Spending after June 11 is not in hand.

Many of his gifts are odd amounts, such as $104.48 or $1,041.98. That is common when donors choose to cover an online processing fee; the filing doesn’t say. His campaign also paid two of its donors for campaign expenses (Brianna Jones-Whelan $315.76 and Ed Manion $170.99) and reimbursed the candidate $93.15 for advertising. He lists $372.70 in in-kind help, mostly his own food, candy and supplies.

$1,262, Through Sept. 24

IN PLAIN WORDSMahoney’s campaign is very small. A third of its value is things he paid for himself, like vehicle graphics and a sign.

His export includes his “September 30th” report, so his figures run later than the other two. Nine contribution rows are marked “[DELETED]” with no details. His street address appears on his own contribution lines; this page lists only his city.

In Their Own Words

IN PLAIN WORDSWhat each candidate says they’ll work on. These are their claims, not checked facts.

How this was read: Mahoney’s quotes are from his campaign site (page text captured Sept. 24, 2026; the site says it was last updated 9/22/2026). Catten’s quotes are from the “Meet Silvia” page of her campaign site (text captured Sept. 24, 2026) and a Jordan River Commission profile (Feb. 17, 2023). Smith’s site (forwardwithcolin.org) was not read. None of the three was found addressing data centers in the sources read.

What Each Candidate Listed

IN PLAIN WORDSEach candidate filled out the state’s conflict-of-interest form. Two used a legal option to keep some personal details private.

Where This Race Meets the Rest of the Docket

IN PLAIN WORDSMany of these donors gave in the other Senate races on this site. A shared donor is a connection, not an accusation.

Graded Topic by Topic

IN PLAIN WORDSEach topic gets a grade, A (best) to F (worst), on five questions: Does it check power? Can the public see it? Is it clear who pays? What does it do to air, water and land? Do the people affected get a real say? N/A means the question doesn’t apply.

How to read these: grades judge only what has already happened in the filings as of Sept. 24, 2026. They judge the record, not the person. None of the three has a state legislative voting record.

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.)

Questions From the Records

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

Limits of the Record