This article is part of a series providing a glimpse into Utah’s political leaders’ daily work schedule and lives. View other articles in the series here.
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson
Deidre Henderson is Utah’s 9th lieutenant governor and has served Utah in various elected positions since 2013.
She worked as political director and campaign manager for former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz before being elected to the Utah Senate. During her years in the Senate, Lt. Gov. Henderson was one of two Republican women in the Senate to champion conservative values, government transparency, and advocate for women and families. She served as chair of the Senate rules committee, revenue and taxation committee, education committee, and vice-chair of the ethics committee.
In addition to being Lt. Gov., Henderson is a student at Brigham Young University pursuing an undergraduate degree in history. She is passionate about encouraging both women and men to complete higher education degrees.
She and her husband, Gabe, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of four grown children and one teenager.
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The following schedule provides an example of the lieutenant governor’s daily schedule using different events that occurred over a week’s time.
Representative Weekly Schedule
5:30 a.m. — Wake up and get ready for the day. On my way out, I make sure my little dog, Oliver, is fed and let out. I remember my monster energy drink – I will need it with today’s busy schedule.
7:00 a.m. — Transit to the Capitol. I live in Spanish Fork, and it takes me about an hour, depending on traffic. It is a convenient time for me to catch up on emails, reply to texts and phone calls, and prepare myself for the day.
8 a.m. — My morning begins with a COVID-19 Unified Command meeting. This meeting happens every other day, with each agency reporting on its pandemic efforts. It’s an important meeting to ensure the state is coordinating this vital work.
9 a.m. — I hold my weekly coordination meeting with my chief of staff, executive assistant, and special assistant, along with the director of legislative affairs. We sit down and review needs and priorities for the week. These are the women behind the scenes who help make things happen.
10 a.m. — Attend a leadership meeting with Gov. Cox. Every Monday morning, the governor and I sit down with our senior staff team members from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the Office of Energy Development to discuss priorities for the week.
11 to 11:30 a.m. — Conduct media interviews. Typically, I receive a couple of media requests a week. The latest one I did was for Telemundo Utah, highlighting the start of the Returnship initiative that we recently launched to help Utahns get back into the workforce.
Opportunity Outreach
Noon — Transit from Capitol Hill to the Utah Department of Public Safety.
12 to 1 p.m. — Visit the Utah Department of Public Safety. As part of my responsibilities as the newly elected Lt. Gov., I have prioritized visiting each of our state agencies. These meetings provide the opportunity to meet the staff, become aware of the goals and initiatives they have, secure trust, and build our relationship as a team.
1:00 p.m. — Stop for lunch. Sometimes, it seems that having lunch can be the hardest part of the day. If I have back-to-back meetings, I typically get something quick on the road. Jimmy John’s is my go-to.
1:30 p.m. — Transit to Jordan School District.
2:00 p.m. — I had the wonderful opportunity to tour the Jordan School District. Education is one of the main priorities of our administration. I was so impressed with their innovative, hands-on approach.
3:30 p.m. — Transit back to the Capitol.
4:00 p.m. — Meet with members from the Republic of the Sudan. As part of my duties, I have the amazing opportunity to grow our international ties with countries worldwide. Today, I met with the honorable Nasreldin Mofreh Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs and Ambassador Amira Agarib, deputy chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Sudan to the United States. We discussed how to continue strengthening cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Sudan and the state of Utah.
5:00 p.m. — I participate in a weekly vaccine discussion with senior staff members from the Utah Department of Health. This call helps keep us updated and informed on the progress of the vaccine distribution.
5:30 p.m. — If my meetings are done for the day by this time, I usually start the commute home. But some days, meetings can last until 7 or 8 p.m.
6:00 to 6:45 p.m. — Transit home. On my way home, I like to get caught up on emails, texts, and important updates I may have missed throughout the day.
7:00 to 10 p.m. — Attend my daughter’s college graduation. My daughter, Hayley Winters, recently graduated from Utah Valley University with her bachelor’s degree in community health. I am so proud of her and the hard work she put in. I am excited to see her next big step.