Raymond P. Ward, a Republican and Bountiful family physician, is seeking reelection to Utah House District 19 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Ward filed for reelection with no challengers as of January 2026, according to the Standard-Examiner. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

The district covers Davis County.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Occupation: Family physician at Cope Family Medicine/Ogden Clinic in Bountiful, near Lakeview Hospital, according to his campaign website. Ward said he enjoys working with older patients and helping patients who struggle with addiction.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in zoology from Brigham Young University; doctor of medicine from the University of Washington, according to BallotReady.

Experience and public service

Ward said on his campaign website that he was first elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2014. BallotReady lists him as serving District 19 since 2015.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Ward's campaign website and his responses on BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Housing affordability

Ward said housing prices in Utah have risen faster than almost anywhere else in the country over the past decade. He said he does not support using tax revenue to subsidize housing. Instead, he said the solution is removing bureaucratic barriers to building smaller, more affordable units. Ward said he sponsored and passed legislation to allow broader use of internal accessory dwelling units so people can share or rent space inside their own homes.

Water and the Great Salt Lake

Ward said he has worked to support changes to how Utah uses, measures and conserves water to preserve a healthy Great Salt Lake. "All of us stand to lose if the lake dries up," Ward said on his campaign website.

Education

Ward said public education should be a high priority. He said parents should know what is being taught to their children and have alternatives available. He also said teachers deserve workplace protections and that the legislature should not pass laws adding to teachers' administrative burden.

Abortion

Ward said he supports Utah's abortion law, which outlaws elective abortion but includes exceptions when the mother's life or health is at risk and in cases of rape. He said he supported House Bill 467 in 2023, which he said clarified how the state balances the prohibition on elective abortion with health exceptions. He also said he has advocated for health care coverage for women during pregnancy, including help for high-risk women struggling with addiction.

Taxes and the economy

Ward listed cutting taxes as a priority. He said the economy does best when taxes and regulations are kept low and fair.

Candidate responses were collected from Ward's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire data. The Bountiful-Farmington Record did not interview the candidate for this profile.