Dan Johnson on Jason Thompson and Dark Money in House District 3

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“There is nobody in the House of Representatives right now who’s doing more for children and education and childcare and protecting the environment and all of those kinds of things than Jason Thompson.”

— Former State Rep. Dan Johnson, KVNU For The People, Oct. 14, 2026

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, former State Representative Dan Johnson joined host Jason Williams in studio on KVNU's For The People to talk about out-of-state money finding its way into Cache Valley's local races.

Williams, who has been raising the issue since last year's municipal election, explained how it works: an out-of-state organization or individual can legally funnel money into an in-state PAC, which can then give to local candidates. The in-state donation is reported, but, as Williams put it, that's where the paper trail ends. He said it showed up in last year's Logan mayoral race and has now appeared in the Utah House District 3 race here in Cache Valley.

Williams noted that Johnson came out of retirement to write an op-ed on the subject. Johnson said there comes a time when people watch things happen and think of them as something that happens in Washington, D.C., and that it has now entered local races, including the race for House District 3. He said he felt it was time to set the record straight. During the segment, the practice was described as legal but “basically money laundering,” a way to keep a candidate from having to say the money comes from out of state, with the money often used “to paint a picture and sell an agenda.”

Johnson described a mailer that implied one of Cache Valley's representatives had something to hide, saying groups like these “take the truth and bend it a little.” He said Thompson “had lies that were told about him” that “attacked his personal integrity.”

The conversation then turned to the For Our Freedom Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment from American Promise. Johnson explained that it would need ratification by 37 states and would give Congress and the states the power to require transparency about where political money comes from. Williams said Rep. Jason Thompson, after his experience in this race, has signed on and said he will encourage his colleagues in the Utah Legislature to back it. “Hats off to Jason Thompson for signing his name on this as well,” Williams said.

Their advice to voters: the next time a mailer shows up, look at who paid for it and ask why, before taking it as the truth.

Rep. Thompson is the Republican nominee for Utah House District 3 on the November 3 ballot.

Listen to the episode

Courtesy of KVNU / For The People (Cache Valley Media Group). Full Oct. 14, 2026 Hour 1 broadcast (about 55 minutes); the Dan Johnson segment starts at about 35:40.

Former State Representative Dan Johnson, KVNU For The People, Oct 14, 2026KVNU / For The People (Cache Valley Media Group)

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