Ben McAdams, a former Utah congressman who rebranded himself as a progressive, won the Democratic primary in a newly redrawn Salt Lake City district despite a challenge from three progressive candidates. The race underscored the ideological struggle within the Democratic Party, as McAdams emphasized his impeachment vote and healthcare advocacy while progressives sought a more left-leaning representative. The district is a key target for Democrats aiming to regain the U.S. House.
Ben McAdams, a former Utah congressman who has worked to change his image from a moderate, won the Democratic primary on Tuesday in a redrawn U.S. House district that Democrats are heavily favored to capture this fall.
His win over three progressive candidates disappointed voters who wanted to move the Democratic Party further to the left, highlighting the ideological battles occurring in Democratic primaries nationwide. His opponents included a state senator and a former employee of TikTok and Meta who argued McAdams was too conservative for a left-leaning district. Some had urged one or two candidates to withdraw to boost a progressive's chances.
The Salt Lake City-area seat is one of the few expected Democratic pickups after a national redistricting effort initiated by former President Donald Trump aimed at helping Republicans keep their House majority. The 1st Congressional District race could be pivotal for Democrats, who need only a few House seats in November to regain control of the closely divided chamber. McAdams is heavily favored to beat Republican Riley Owen, a Navy Reserve intelligence officer chosen at the state GOP's spring convention.
"Tonight this victory belongs to every volunteer who showed up on a hot June afternoon and knocked door after door," McAdams told supporters. "The energy and the passion your campaigns brought to this race is exactly what we need headed into November. " The other three of Utah's four congressional seats are considered safely Republican, including the 3rd District where U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, endorsed by Trump, repelled a conservative primary challenge from the right.
Former Democratic congressman recast himself for the campaign. Candidates in the new Salt Lake City-area district tried to outmaneuver each other on the left, a shift from decades of Democrats trying to appeal to Utah's mostly conservative electorate. State Democrats held an open primary, allowing any district voter to participate regardless of party affiliation. McAdams previously described himself as pro-life and positioned himself as a moderate during his 2018 campaign when he unseated a GOP incumbent during Trump's first term.
This year, campaigning in a far more Democratic district, McAdams pledged support for abortion rights and insisted he is only "moderate in tone.
" After his primary win, he highlighted his congressional work to expand healthcare, invest in public lands, and secure LGBTQ+ protections. He said his defining vote was to impeach Trump, drawing loud applause.
"I would do it again," he said. "Character matters, courage matters and right now talk is cheap. Utahans deserve someone who has already shown the courage to stand up and speak with conviction when the pressure is real.
" Progressive candidates generated enthusiasm but split their voters. Among McAdams' opponents was state Sen. Nate Blouin, a progressive champion in the Republican-controlled Legislature who sought to rebound from a social media controversy. Blouin apologized in April for posts from 2009-2015 that disparaged women and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He aimed to energize an electorate accustomed to settling for those who "play nice" with Republicans. He earned endorsements from prominent progressives including independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Greg Casar, and Maxwell Frost.
On Tuesday night, he issued a statement saying his campaign, though unsuccessful, marked "the beginning of a new era of organizing" in the state.
"The progressive movement in Utah still has a long way to go, but we've helped forge the path forward, and we'll keep organizing for a better Utah where public lands are protected, ICE is abolished, and reproductive freedom is secure," he said. Two other progressive candidates, both political newcomers-Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell-also competed.
Mohamed, a former Meta and TikTok employee, was a breakout star at the state Democratic convention earlier this year, winning after five rounds of ranked-choice voting to secure the party's backing over McAdams. Other candidates still qualified for the primary via signatures. Mohamed was supported by U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley.
While progressive voters had many candidates to choose from, some worried the field was too large as they voted in the primary
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