About — Liddy Huntsman Hernandez

Deep Roots and a Fearless Drive

Liddy Huntsman Hernández is a writer, advocate, and mother with deep roots in Salt Lake City and a fearless drive to challenge the status quo.

Authentic, bold, and driven by a deep love for the neighborhood that raised her, Liddy Huntsman Hernández is a voice for District 3—because she is District 3. Born and raised in this community, she learned to ride a bike here, took her first steps toward advocacy here, and after living abroad in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and on the East Coast, it was here she chose to return and raise her own family.

Liddy’s life has been shaped by both challenge and community. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age seven, she knows what it means to rely on a support system—and how powerful that system can be when it shows up. That belief has fueled her lifelong commitment to mental health, public safety, and lifting up those too often left out of the conversation.

With a background in creative campaign development, storytelling, and community organizing, Liddy brings both vision and action to the table. She’s not afraid to ask hard questions, and she knows how to build coalitions to get things done. Whether it’s expanding access to life-saving diabetes care, standing up for equity and inclusion, or using stand-up comedy to connect across difference, Liddy leads with empathy, grit, and a fierce sense of purpose.

She holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Media Studies from The New School, focused on digital storytelling. But her deepest education came right here—in the schools, parks, and neighborhoods of District 3.

Today, Liddy lives in the district with her husband, Eddie, and their two sons, Harrison(10) and Hunter (6). You’ll find them walking the trails, shooting hoops at the park, or dancing in the kitchen. She’s running to represent district 3 as a council person not for the title or prestige—but because it’s home.

liddy will always

Stand For Our Values

Liddy has a proven record of standing up for vulnerable Salt Lakers, even when it's unpopular or against the grain. She will always defend our values.

LGBTQ+ Equality

In 2013, Liddy joined the national leadership committee of Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, helping reshape the conversation around marriage equality within conservative spaces. That same year, she marched at the Utah State Capitol in support of anti-discrimination legislation—efforts that contributed to the momentum behind Utah’s SB 296, which ultimately secured workplace and housing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
These early efforts earned bipartisan support in Utah and across the country and helped shift public opinion—Utahns’ support for LGBTQ+ workplace protections rose from 46% in 2012 to 74% by 2019 .
Today, Liddy remains committed to safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights in Salt Lake City—championing marriage equality, workplace protections, affectionate public spaces, and city services that reflect the dignity and belonging of every resident.

Health Advocacy

As a passionate advocate for Type 1 diabetes care, Liddy publicly challenged policy barriers that prevented Medicare Part D from covering modern, tubeless insulin pumps. Her vocal advocacy and 2017 op-ed in The Salt Lake Tribune drew significant public and policymaker attention. In 2018, following advocacy from her and others, CMS approved the coverage of the Omnipod pump—expanding access for approximately 450,000 Americans with Type 1 diabetes.

Bag of Hope Program

Together with her mother, Mary Kaye, Liddy co-created the Bag of Hope program to support children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This initiative provides comforting resources—like “Rufus the Bear with Diabetes,” educational guides, and care kits—to help families feel supported at a critical time. Now part of Breakthrough T1D, the program distributes nearly 20,000 Bags of Hope each year, providing emotional strength and a sense of belonging.