The Last Democrat Utah Sent to Congress Is One Step Closer to Returning

Former Rep. Ben McAdams fended off progressive candidates in Utah’s new 1st Congressional District primary on Tuesday, advancing to a general election contest that heavily favors Democrats.

McAdams, who was one of the most conservative Democrats when he served in the House from 2019 to 2021, is projected to beat Nate Blouin, Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell, three progressive contenders.

The primary was a proxy battle for Democrats’ larger ideological fight over the electability of moderates versus progressives. And in the nationwide redistricting reshuffle that Republicans have worked to make an advantage, the Utah seat is a bright spot for Democrats. McAdams will face the Republican candidate Riley Owen this fall.

McAdams has styled himself as a pragmatist and during the primary had to defend his record in Congress — including his support of a bill that allowed doctors to refuse to perform abortions because of their personal beliefs in 2019, as well as votes against labor unions and war powers.

His campaign made an effort to focus on progressive victories he fought for, like statewide LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections, Medicaid expansion and environmental protection legislation.

Utah’s 1st Congressional District was drawn into existence by a court-ordered, independent nonpartisan redistricting commission after a state court ruled that the old map illegally diluted Democratic votes in Salt Lake County.

Some Democrats in the district fear that the blue dot won’t be around forever, which made McAdams an even more attractive choice to them because he’d won a toss-up seat in the past.

Jeff Merchant, a former chair of the state’s Democratic Party, voted for McAdams because he could fight for progressive causes in Congress while still being a pragmatic Democrat who would stand a chance of keeping the seat if the lines were to shift again.

“If we elected a strong progressive, they would be there for two years, and then they would be defending a seat that would be almost impossible for a progressive to win in 2028,” he said.