A Working-Class Voice for Utah’s Future

I’m Luis Villarreal—born at the University of Utah Hospital, raised in a working-class immigrant family, and shaped by the same challenges everyday Utahns face. I’m not a career politician. I’m a regular Utah kid who grew up in union halls, public schools, community rallies, and the neighborhoods that make this state home. And now, at 26, I’m running for Congress because it’s time for young people and working families to finally have a voice that can’t be ignored.

Working-Class Roots. Utah Values.

My parents immigrated from Mexico with nothing but grit, faith, and the belief that their hard work could build a better life. My dad has worked in the Carpenters Union for as long as I’ve been alive. My mom worked every job she had to in order to keep our family moving forward. They taught me that dignity and strength come from showing up and working hard—values I still live by.

A Life of Activism and Community

When I was a kid, my parents took me to the Sí Se Puede rally during the Obama administration. That moment lit the spark. Ever since, I’ve shown up—at protests, town halls, community events, marches, and any space where ordinary people demand better. Through high school and college, I spent my free time not only studying politics, but actively participating in it. I’ve seen firsthand how political decisions hit real families, real workers, and real communities.

Education That Reflects the Future of Utah

I studied computer engineering at Salt Lake Community College, earning my associate degree, and later earned a certificate in full-stack web development from the University of Utah. Alongside my engineering work, I studied political science—not for a degree, but because I’ve always believed you can’t fix what you don’t understand. I’m deeply rooted in both the tech world and the policy world, and I understand how each impacts our economy, jobs, and daily life.

A Voice That Won’t Back Down

I’ve seen the danger of Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric. I’ve watched anti-immigrant fearmongering shake families like mine to the core. I’ve watched young people—my generation—try to build a future in an economy where everything feels out of reach. And I’m done waiting for someone else to speak up.

I’m running because Utah needs a loud, unapologetic, working-class voice. Someone who isn’t owned by party insiders or corporate donors. Someone who isn’t afraid to call out failures—whether they come from Democrats or Republicans. Someone who knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, worry about housing costs, fight for opportunity, and still believe in a better future.

Why I’m Running

I’m running because young people deserve representation. Working families deserve representation. Immigrant communities deserve safety and dignity. And Utah deserves a representative who isn’t afraid to be bold, who isn’t afraid to stand alone if it means standing up for what’s right.

I’m running because this is our home—and it’s time for a new generation to take the mic.