Emily Buss is an American politician who is a member of the Utah State Senate, representing the 11th district. A member of the Forward Party, she won a poll held by the party to choose a successor for outgoing Forward senator Daniel Thatcher, who resigned on December 12, 2025.
Buss is a social service worker and nonprofit leader. In 2025, Buss ran for Eagle Mountain, Utah city council. She finished fourth receiving 23.28% of the vote.
According to the Forward Party, this was the first time in United States history that approval voting was used to elect a state legislator, and the first time that a political party in the nation opened a replacement vote to all registered voters in a district, regardless of party. Typically, political parties in Utah let only local party delegates in the district vote on replacement legislators. In-person, online, and mail-in voting took place over multiple days, and prospective candidates pledged not to exceed a $300 campaign spending limit. Following the poll, the Forward Party formally submitted her name to the Governor who, under Utah law, must appoint a replacement chosen by the outgoing legislator's political party.