Housing Issues on Display at Gubernatorial Debate

This week, three candidates for governor took to the stage for a debate. Chief among the issues discussed was housing. With Utah’s high home prices and growing demand, the debate featured discussion on how best to ensure that more Utahns can find homes they can afford. The candidates shared their visions, strategies, and disagreements on how to address this pressing issue. 

Notably for our readers, one of the candidates featured our work in some of his responses. “What I like is the Free to Build initiative sponsored by the Libertas Institute, where it grows our housing stock and that increases affordability rather than direct taxpayer funds,” Libertarian candidate Rob Latham stated. Later on in the debate, Latham reinforced his endorsement of our work by inviting everyone to visit freetobuild.org, where much of our recommendations on free market solutions to the housing crisis can be found.

From left to right, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, Democratic candidate Rep. Brian King, and Libertarian Robert Latham.

Here at Libertas, we don’t engage in elections or endorse candidates. However, we do take stances on policy — and we obviously endorse our own solutions that promote individual freedom, free markets, and deregulation of the housing industry.

The issue of how best to address housing challenges was raised multiple times during the discussion and further explored in the media scrum that followed the debate. Governor Cox was clear about his solution, “We have to build, it is the only answer… we have come up with a plan to build 35,000 starter homes over the next five years.” Furthermore, when Governor Cox was asked how he would cut through the red tape to make building more homes possible, he remarked that, “we have to incentive the right things.” He explained that if we had a shortage of shoes, then he would want our shoe companies to make money and make more shoes.

Cox also went on to explain that the government is one of the biggest drivers of housing costs. “Every time we say we can’t build on that property, or say you have to have a piece of property that is this big, then we are adding costs,” he stated. Lastly, when asked if ADUs, tiny homes, and prefab homes are part of the solution, Cox responded, “Yes, all of the above.”

From left to right, Democratic candidate Rep. Brian King, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, and Libertarian Robert Latham will face off in a debate hosted by the Utah Debate Commission on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Courtesy of the King, Cox and Latham campaigns)

For his part, Representative King shifted the conversation towards discouraging speculative investments. He warned that too many homes are being purchased by out-of-state investors who do not intend to live in Utah but instead flip properties for profit or rent them out at inflated rates. “We need to make sure that Utah families have the first shot at Utah’s housing stock,” King insisted. When asked if deregulation was the answer, King said it could be part of the solution, adding, “We could address it by helping cities and counties have greater flexibility in how they do their zoning.”

As the housing debate continues to dominate Utah’s political landscape, the candidates’ differing approaches reflect the complexity of the issue. Cox advocates for expanding the housing stock with a focus on building more starter homes. Latham also supports increasing supply but emphasizes avoiding subsidies that unintentionally raise prices. Meanwhile, King highlights the importance of addressing speculative investments and ensuring that local families have better access to housing. Despite their differing views, all agreed that action is essential, and the future of Utah’s housing market will depend on how these strategies are implemented.