Josh Daniels
Josh Daniels is the Director for Election Policy at the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, where he leads the Center’s work on election administration, democratic governance, and election reform. A nationally recognized election administrator and reformer, he brings practical, hands-on experience from overseeing elections in one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, with a focus on security, transparency, accessibility, and public trust in democratic institutions.
Daniels previously served as the elected County Clerk/Auditor for Utah County, Utah’s second-largest county, after first serving as chief deputy in that office. In that capacity, he oversaw election administration as well as county budget, finance, audit, and records functions. Under his leadership, Utah County implemented a series of election modernization and accessibility reforms, piloted new voting technologies for military, overseas, and disabled voters, and deployed real-time GIS tools to improve election transparency and operational efficiency. His team also launched one of the nation’s first fully online, end-to-end marriage license systems using advanced digital identity verification. These efforts earned national recognition, including honors from Government Technology magazine, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the National Association of Counties, and were widely covered by major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and other national and international press. Daniels is a frequent presenter, guest and contributor across the country including presentations at the National Association of Counties, International Association of Government Officials, The Election Center, the State Policy Network, and many state and regional associations.
Beyond county government, Daniels has advised policymakers, election officials, and civic leaders across the country on election law, voting systems, and administrative best practices. He has served as an advisor and fellow with various reform groups, where he contributes expertise on electoral systems and democracy reform, and consults with state and local governments on election administration, public sector innovation, and governance strategy. He has also previously hosted a local political talk radio program.
Prior to joining the Rainey Center, Daniels built a career spanning public policy, government affairs, and political campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels. He served as senior director of state relations for Pearson’s Connections Education, leading government affairs and advocacy efforts supporting school choice and public charter schools across multiple western states. Earlier, he was policy director at the Libertas Institute, where he worked closely with legislators and stakeholders on regulatory reform, education policy, and governance issues. He also served as a senior aide to a Member of Congress and has advised or managed dozens of Republican campaigns, while holding leadership and delegate roles in local, state, and national party organizations.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Daniels served as a platoon sergeant and team leader, including a combat deployment to Fallujah, Iraq, where he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for superior performance. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University. Daniels lives in Utah, where he continues to serve on public boards and commissions and remains an active voice on election integrity, democratic reform, and effective local government.