# Utah Best in Government Affairs Awards 2026 | USLege > Nominations are open for the 2026 Utah Best in Government Affairs Awards. Seven peer-nominated categories, no cost to nominate or be featured. Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/utah --- USLege · Best in Government Affairs Awards 2026 Annual Awards · Salt Lake City, UT # Utah Best in Government _Affairs_ Nominations are open now. Seven peer-nominated categories honoring the people who shape Utah policy, with no cost to nominate or be featured. [Submit a nomination](#nominate)[Explore other states](#states) **Open**Nominations **7**Categories **100%**Peer-nominated Seven Categories ## One goal: recognize the _people_ who make Utah work. From veterans whose names are synonymous with Salt Lake City excellence to early-career operators already three steps ahead, these categories reflect the full spectrum of government affairs talent in Utah. There is no cost to nominate or be featured. 01 · Association ### Association Advocates of the Year Recognizes someone who leads government affairs for a trade, professional, or statewide business association and does it with clarity, credibility, and results. 02 · Veterans ### Longtime Legends in Government Affairs Honors the professionals whose decades of work have shaped Utah government affairs. Trusted veterans, mentors, and dealmakers whose reputations are built on results, relationships, and respect. 03 · Intelligence ### Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year Honors someone who redefines what it means to stay ahead. Recognizes the professional using every tool to surface what matters faster and make decisions with unmatched clarity. 04 · Lobbyists ### Powerhouse Lobbyists of the Year Recognizes a contract lobbyist whose work in Utah government relations stands above the rest. Trusted by clients, legislators, and colleagues alike. 05 · Emerging ### Rising Stars of the Year Honors an early-career professional whose presence, performance, and potential are impossible to ignore. Already operating like a seasoned pro. 06 · Voice ### Strategic Communicators of the Year Recognizes someone whose message discipline, timing, and voice influence not just public opinion, but legislative outcomes in Utah. 07 · Behind the Scenes ### Top Staffers of the Year Recognizes a legislative staffer whose expertise, judgment, and hustle power a legislator's agenda from behind the scenes in Salt Lake City. These are the staffers who turn draft ideas into law and make the entire operation smarter, faster, and sharper. The member gets the credit but everyone in the building knows who made it happen. The Process ## Four steps. _Three minutes._ One nomination. Peer-nominated, advisory-board reviewed. The strongest nominations include specific examples of impact, wins, relationships, and leadership. Step 01 ### Choose your nominee Anyone doing government affairs work in Utah qualifies: [lobbyists](/for/lobbyists), legislative staff, [association leaders](/for/associations), communicators, and rising stars. Step 02 ### Pick the right category One nomination per submission. Teams can submit as many as they like across categories. Step 03 ### Make your case The more specific the examples of impact, wins, and leadership, the stronger the nomination. Step 04 ### Advisory board review Winners are selected based on the strength and volume of nominations. Your words matter. Nominations Open ## Submit a _nomination_. One nominee per submission, across any of the seven categories. Nominations are free, and self-nominations are welcome, though peer nominations carry more weight during advisory board review. ### Thanks, your nomination has been submitted. We have it. Nominations are reviewed by the Utah advisory board after nominations close, and winners are notified as part of a public recognition campaign. Want to nominate someone else? [Submit another nomination](#nominate). The Honor ## What every winner _receives_. A feature profile on the 2026 Best in Government Affairs Utah webpage A custom award badge and digital toolkit to share the win Exclusive promotion to the USLege network of 12,000+ policy professionals and media partners Public recognition campaign across editorial and social channels Recognition on stage at the Utah awards ceremony The Ceremony ## Winners are celebrated _on stage_. Utah honorees are recognized at an awards ceremony, free for honorees to attend. Venue, date, and time will be announced after nominations close. Judges ## Reviewed by people who _know Salt Lake City_. Every nomination is read by a Utah advisory board of government affairs leaders, and winners are chosen on the strength and volume of nominations. Coming Soon Our Utah advisory board will be announced soon. Nominations submitted before the announcement are reviewed by the same board. The platform behind the awards ## Track the Utah Legislature while you _wait on winners_. USLege covers the Utah Legislature with live video, searchable transcripts, and cited AI answers. Get the weekly Political Spotlight recap for Utah, free. [Explore USLege Utah](/states/utah) [Read the Political Spotlight](/newsletters) A Preview ## This is what the night _looks like_. Utah winners will receive the same peer-nominated crystal awarded at the inaugural Texas ceremony in 2025. ![Rows of engraved crystal Best in Government Affairs awards at the 2025 Texas ceremony](/assets/awards/award-night-2025.jpg) Award crystal from the Texas 2025 ceremony, the same honor Utah winners will receive. At the Best in Government Affairs Award ceremony Questions ## About the _awards_. ### What are the USLege Best in Government Affairs Awards? An annual, peer-nominated recognition of the most effective professionals in government affairs, including contract lobbyists, legislative staff, association leaders, strategic communicators, and policy experts. Nominations for the inaugural Utah program are open now. ### When do Utah nominations close? No close date has been announced yet. Nominations are open now and stay open until we publish a close date here. ### When will the Utah winners be announced? Winners are selected after nominations close, based on the strength and volume of nominations received, and are notified as part of a public recognition campaign. No announcement date is set yet. ### What categories are recognized? Seven categories: Association Advocates of the Year, Longtime Legends in Government Affairs, Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year, Powerhouse Lobbyists of the Year, Rising Stars of the Year, Strategic Communicators of the Year, and Top Staffers of the Year. ### Can I nominate myself? Yes, you can. That said, peer nominations carry more weight during advisory board review. If you have done strong work, chances are someone who has worked with you will nominate you. ### Can I nominate more than one person? Absolutely. One nomination per submission, but you are welcome to submit as many as you like across as many categories as make sense. ### What does it cost? Nothing. There is no cost to nominate and no cost to be featured. This is peer recognition, not pay-to-play. ### Who reviews the nominations? A Utah advisory board of government affairs leaders reviews every nomination. The board members will be announced soon. ### Who runs the Utah awards? USLege, the AI-powered legislative intelligence platform covering all 50 states and Congress. Nominations open now ## Someone you know _deserves this_. Three minutes, no cost, and a real shot at recognition for the person doing the work. Nominate them, or see how the same program ran in [Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas). [Submit a nomination](#nominate) Every State ## Explore other _states_. The USLege Best in Government Affairs Awards are rolling out across all 50 states. Find yours below. [Arizona](/best-in-government-affairs/arizona)[Arkansas](/best-in-government-affairs/arkansas)[California](/best-in-government-affairs/california)[New York](/best-in-government-affairs/new-york)[Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas)[Utah](/best-in-government-affairs/utah)AlabamaAlaskaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming