Candidate, State Board of Education, District 8 · Republican
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Candidate photo via BallotReady. Photo: BallotReady (photographer uncredited) · Copyright retained by rights holder · BallotReady
Candidate photo via BallotReady. Photo: BallotReady (photographer uncredited) · Copyright retained by rights holder · BallotReady
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Unofficial results: Nicole McDermott was trailing with 17,909 votes, or 45.1%; Araueni Olivares had 54.9%. As of Nov 4, 1:42 AM MT. Election night results. Counts are not official until the canvass.
Nicole McDermott was a candidate for State Board of Education, District 8 in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. The ballot listed Nicole McDermott, Republican. Counts are unofficial until the canvass; see the election night results and the official results. The district covers all or part of Salt Lake County.
Nicole McDermott's BallotReady candidate profile lists this work history: Granite School District, Boardmember - District 4 (2019 - Present); Music/Orchestra Teacher.[1]
It lists these degrees: Master's, Teachers College Columbia, Music Education; Bachelor's, University of Utah, Music Education.[1]
In the candidate's own words
Nicole McDermott is president of the Granite School District board, elected in 2019. She spent 25 years teaching music and orchestra in the Granite and Jordan school districts before that.[2]
In the survey, McDermott names attendance, artificial intelligence, declining enrollment, falling proficiency and behavior as challenges and favors local control. McDermott says pornography has no place in schools but students benefit from a wide range of age-appropriate literature. McDermott supports family choice but says public funds require strict accountability, with funding limited to the Weighted Pupil Unit and recipients held to the same academic standards. McDermott opposes third-grade retention and supports bell-to-bell cellphone bans.[2]
These are the candidate's own survey answers as printed by the Tribune, not checked by The Utah Ledger.[2]
Profile sources
Profile refreshed October 30, 2026. Candidate statements describe the candidate's own experience or positions; official records and reporting are labeled separately.
After interviewing four finalists Sept. 1, the board passed the final motion unanimously after a substitute motion for "Ben's name" failed 1-6. Her term begins in January 2027, per the district's notice.
· From Granite School District
AI-generated illustration: The Utah Ledger · Original graphic · The Utah Ledger
