Jared Neal

Jared Neal earned a bachelor's degree from Boise State University in 2019. Neal's career experience includes working as a risk manager.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Jared Neal and before becoming the Head of Portfolio Management at a financial tech company, I spent years in the service and retail industries. That experience–working paycheck-to-paycheck, struggling to find affordable housing, and trying to plan a future with little to show for my hours of hard work–shaped my core conviction: that anyone who works a job deserves to live with dignity and security. This is how I plan to strengthen Utah, make it easy to find dignified work so that you can build secure families.

I, of course, wanted this for my own family, so after years in the workforce I went to school and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Boise State University to begin a career in Risk Analysis. In 2019 my family and I moved to Utah to build a better life together and start my new career. This journey from the service industry to finance and tech has given me an important perspective on the “Utah Dream.” While Utahns have grit in spades, it must be met with real opportunity born from economic stability to truly generate success.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Utah is a great place to live, but for too many, it’s becoming too expensive to stay. My priority is tackling the "Big Two" costs: Housing and Healthcare. We must stop the ballooning costs of living that make hard working families struggle to save for the future. I’ll advocate for policies that increase housing supply and lower barriers for first-time buyers. In healthcare, I will hold big pharmaceutical companies and providers accountable. We must aggressively pursue price gougers and ensure that life-saving drugs never destroy a family's financial future. By lowering these fixed costs, we give Utah families the breathing room they need to thriveThe Great Salt Lake is more than a landmark; it is the lifeblood of our region’s economy and our health. As the lake recedes we are facing a public health crisis and a direct threat to our financial stability. A dying lake means a dying housing market and a sick public. Recent studies warn that toxic dust and worsening air quality could slash property values across the Wasatch Front by billions. Protecting the lake is about protecting our single largest investment: our homes. I will fight for bold, science-led water policies that ensure our air stays breathable and our home values stay secure. We cannot let the "greatest snow on earth" turn into toxic dust. It’s time to save the lake to save our future and our property.Strong public schools are the foundation of a thriving Utah. To make our students hyper-competitive in tomorrow’s economy, we must stop the cycle of education cuts and start truly listening to our educators. My focus is on robust investment in our public system to ensure every student graduates as a well-rounded, critical thinker. Whether they eventually pursue a career as a scholar, an entrepreneur, a doctor, or a skilled tradesperson, they deserve an education that provides them with the most options possible. By supporting our teachers and funding diverse academic and vocational pathways, we ensure a Utah education is a ticket to success in any field, giving our children the tools to lead and adapt in a changing world.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about the intersection of macroeconomics, market forces, and labor. With my background in banking and portfolio management, I see how global and national economic shifts ripple down to our local grocery stores and gas stations. I’m driven to ensure Utah’s markets remain competitive and fair, protecting workers from being squeezed by corporate price gouging or stagnant wages.

Equally important to me is banking and financial policy. I want to ensure our financial systems work for families and small business owners, not just institutional interests. Finally, my passion for education ties it all together. A robust, well-funded public school system is the ultimate economic engine.