“I’m always listening, on the ground and on the Senate floor, engaged, so the people I represent are never left out of the conversation.” - Emily

Meet Senator Buss

Emily Buss is an award-winning nonprofit leader, innovative business executive, and the youngest Utah State Senator. Emily is running for re-election to fight for Utah families, especially those who feel ignored by both parties, and to make sure our kids can still afford to build a future here.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a black blazer smiles at a man with short hair, outdoors with an American flag backdrop and other people in the background, including a person taking a photograph.

Emily suddenly joined the Senate just weeks before the 2026 session, where she quickly earned a reputation as an independent, collaborative leader who brings people together to find common-sense solutions.

In her first session, Emily sponsored innovative legislation to fund roads, education, housing affordability, and championed common-sense solutions for Utah’s water and energy future.

Emily serves on several key committees

  • Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions

  • Senate Health and Human Services

  • General Government Appropriations

  • Social Services Appropriations

Outside the Capitol, Emily is the co-founder and Executive Director of Birthday Box Foundation, a nonprofit she built from the ground up. In just two years, Emily and her organization have served more than 2,500 kids and families in district 11 in just two years.

Emily’s business acumen, leadership, and measurable impact have earned her recognition as one of Utah Business Forty Under 40, one of Utah’s 2026 Remarkable Women, recipient of the Utah Philanthropy Day Heart & Hands Award, the Valley Crossroads 2025 Nonprofit of the Year Award, and the Elevate Business Impact Award.

Family photo of a man, a woman, and three children outdoors during fall, smiling and hugging.

Emily and her husband Joel are raising their three kids in Eagle Mountain. Like so many Utah families, they know what it is like to struggle with the cost of living, traffic, childcare, and the challenge of building a future in Utah.

In her spare time, you can find Emily gardening with her daughters, cheering at her kids sports, off-roading in our beautiful district, and exploring Utah’s national parks.

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Together, we can keep making history and re-elect America’s only third-party state legislator.

Everyday Emily

Two smiling women taking a selfie at a sports stadium with green seats and spectators in the background.
Family of five posing on rocky terrain with mountains and blue sky in the background.
A group of five smiling people, including two women and three children, standing outdoors in a park with trees and a building in the background. The children have face paint.
Two women, a young girl and her mom, standing in front of a green backdrop with logos of the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. The women are holding circular signs; the young girl’s sign reads 'Future Senator'
A woman and a boy sitting close together, smiling and taking a selfie at a social event or gathering, with other people blurred in the background.