Democrats are trying a new approach to win Utah’s U.S. House seat in a crowded Democratic primary, after a redistricting shakeup created a district anchored by Salt Lake City. The political shift has prompted some candidates to argue they can move further left than Utah Democrats historically did, as they seek to outflank each other with progressive policy positions.
Exhibit A in the race is Ben McAdams, a former congressman who is pitching himself as aligned with Democratic priorities in the newly competitive district. At a forum for young voters, McAdams pledged support for abortion rights and for raising the minimum wage, and he also defended his candidacy against criticism from primary opponents who have attacked his voting record.
The competition has sharpened with primary opponents portraying McAdams as too conservative for the modern left, including on abortion and wage policy, as he campaigns to return to Congress in the new 1st district. McAdams, according to the Associated Press, insisted he is “moderate in tone,” while presenting his recent outreach as evidence that he can deliver for the district’s voters.
McAdams is not running in the district he previously represented. In 2018 he ousted a Republican incumbent and then served a single term, when he was viewed by one analysis as the most conservative House Democrat, before losing reelection to a Republican. Now, he is running in a district that emerged from years of legal conflict over Utah’s congressional map, including all of Salt Lake City and much of its suburbs.
Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is treating Utah’s 1st district as a potential foothold for the party. He said the party is pouring more money into Utah than ever before—at least $22,500 a month—to build infrastructure ahead of the 2030 census, when Utah could gain House seats, and he tied the strategy to meeting voters where they are.
Martin also said the timing and the electoral rules could help Democrats. Utah is holding an open primary on June 23, meaning anyone in the district can vote regardless of party affiliation, and Martin said youth voting will be key in Utah given the state’s median age of about 32. He told the AP that young voters are “up for grabs” and suggested that Utah could become “one of the biggest potential swing states in the country.”
Utah Republican Party chairman Robert Axson rejected the notion of a generational shift toward Democrats. Axson said “everything I am seeing shows the younger generation continuing to lead in the promotion of our conservative principles,” adding that he sees “no political swing away from the values that make Utah a wonderful place to call home.”
At candidate events in Taylorsville, multiple young voters said they hoped the Democratic nominee would be more progressive. Milo Hohmann, 22, said state Sen. Nate Blouin is the “firebrand” Utah needs in Congress, pointing to Blouin’s endorsements from prominent progressive lawmakers and senators including Bernie Sanders and Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Greg Casar and Maxwell Frost.
Blouin said his campaign seeks to energize voters who have grown accustomed to politicians “play[ing] nice” with Republicans, and he defended himself against criticism that he has not passed legislation. Blouin told the AP that he has been effectively blacklisted by Republican legislative leaders and that bills he sponsored passed after other lawmakers advanced them under other names.
Some young voters who met candidates said they were weighing Blouin’s message against concerns about governance and results. Hannah Paisley Zoulek, 19, said she was leaning toward Blouin or state Senate colleague Kathleen Riebe, but she expressed worry about how hard Blouin holds his positions, saying it can be “great if you want to make a statement” but not necessarily if lawmakers need to do “the work.”
Despite the broader leftward tilt, not all young voters favored the most progressive candidates. Ben Iverson, 17, said he disagrees, calling McAdams “a great option” and saying he supports the former congressman even though Iverson describes himself as “very progressive.” Iverson pointed to McAdams’s 2019 vote to impeach President Donald Trump and said McAdams has successfully shed the “moderate” label, framing his background in local politics—including work as a state senator and county mayor—as preparation to legislate in the new district.
McAdams said the strongest case for his candidacy is his track record of delivering results rather than relying on rhetoric. In comments to the Associated Press, he said, “It’s easy to have a strongly worded tweet or talking points, but I can actually follow that up with accomplishments that are making life better.”
The Associated Press reported that the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to win the general election in November, and that McAdams faces a half-dozen Democratic opponents in the race for the party’s nomination.