Becky Edwards
Founder | Governing Group
During your decade in the Utah State Legislature, you championed groundbreaking legislation on climate, affordable housing and women’s representation. Why did you choose these areas of impact?
I worked with high school students and community advocates to pass Utah’s first-ever climate resolution. We earned bipartisan support, making Utah the first red state in the country to officially acknowledge both the realities of climate change and our responsibility to act. … Housing was another urgent concern. As chair of the Economic Development Committee, I frequently heard from teachers, seniors and young families priced out of their own neighborhoods — and from business owners unable to attract or keep workers because of the housing crisis. We increased state investment in affordable housing and gave local governments new tools to respond. … Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck and I served as bipartisan co-chairs and worked to reframe issues like childcare, paid leave and economic equity as shared priorities, not partisan ones. We brought together a coalition of legislators — male and female, rural and urban, and Republican and Democrat — to present a united Family Economic Prosperity platform to address issues that mattered to Utahns across the state. … I championed these issues because they shape the future we’re building for our families, our communities and our state. They transcend political posturing, and they’re worth every ounce of effort.
Your Yellow Couch Tour took you to every city and town in Utah. What were the most surprising or consistent concerns you heard from Utahns during these conversations?
Utahns from north to south, urban to rural, and across a vast political landscape showed up ready to share their thoughts, ideas and frustrations, but matched that with a deep commitment to put in the effort to make our state a place where all Utahns can thrive and prosper. They yearn for leaders whom they can trust to listen with empathy, speak with honesty and act with integrity. Seeing how readily people came together in parks, libraries and living rooms to share not just their opinions, but their hopes for Utah’s future, deepened my belief that leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about building trust and making space for others to be heard.
The Governing Group PAC you founded has had remarkable success, with 25 of 28 endorsed candidates winning in the 2024 election. What strategies have proven most effective in identifying, supporting and developing these candidates?
We’ve spent time getting to know people who are already quietly leading in their communities — whether on the PTA, in a small business, in civic or volunteer organizations, or just as a trusted neighbor. Many of our most impactful candidates had never considered running for office until someone saw their potential and encouraged them to step up. We back that encouragement with real support. Governing Group provides strategic guidance and hands-on coaching, covering everything from fundraising and canvassing to communications. We also create spaces where candidates can connect with others facing similar challenges.
As the first woman in Utah to earn a place on a U.S. Senate primary ballot, what advice do you give to women who are considering entering politics or seeking leadership positions?
Before we talk about breaking barriers, let’s start with what leadership really looks like for many women. It might be getting involved in an issue that matters and quickly becoming a powerful advocate. It might be navigating power structures to build relationships that create change. It might be pulling together neighbors, friends and colleagues into grassroots efforts that make a real difference.
So, first: Recognize that leadership isn’t some unreachable goal. It’s what you’re already doing every day. … Second: Build your team early. Find mentors, allies, and co-conspirators who believe in you, believe with you, challenge you and walk with you. … Third: Politics is a contact sport. There will be pushback. There will be doubts. But those moments are where strength is forged. Stay grounded in your values. Remember why you started. Fourth: Your lived experience is a powerful asset. No one can argue with your story. Use it to bring others in, to show what policies mean in real life, to fight for people and communities you care about.
