Former Utah House Democrat wins primary for redistricted seat in Utah

Former Rep. Ben McAdams is projected to win the Democratic primary for Utah’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional, according to Decision Desk HQ.

McAdams, a moderate who represented Utah’s 4th District in Congress from 2019 to 2021 before losing his reelection bid to Rep. Burgess Owens (R), defeated progressive state Sen. Nate Blouin and two other candidates in a race that’s shaping up to be a promising pickup opportunity for Democrats in November.

Democrats have not held a House seat in Utah since McAdams lost reelection in 2020, and the other three of Utah’s four congressional seats are expected to stay in Republican hands this fall.

But the seat in the Salt Lake City-area district, which was redrawn via court order, is now heavily favored toward Democrats and gives McAdams an advantage as he prepares to face off against Republican Riley Owen in November.

Owen, an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve, won his party’s nomination at the state GOP’s convention in the spring.

McAdams represented the state’s 4th district for one term after defeating former Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) in 2018. He entered the Democratic primary field with experience serving in public office and high name recognition after previously serving as Salt Lake County mayor and as as a state senator in the GOP-dominated Utah legislature.

McAdams pitched himself as a centrist Democrat capable of winning over independents and moderate Republicans, as opposed to a Republican-resistant candidate.

He also had superior fundraising, raising almost $2 million dollars for his campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Nate Blouin, who was widely viewed as McAdams’ top challenger in the primary, instead positioned himself as a progressive alternative.

The state senator argued Democrats should embrace a more aggressive approach on central issues including health care and housing. He also secured endorsements from several high-profile progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Greg Casar (Dexas).