Editors Note: This article is part of a series on the primary elections occurring in Utah.
Court-ordered congressional redistricting changed not only district boundaries but also the candidates running in this year’s congressional primary elections across Utah.
The primary elections will determine which candidates advance to represent their parties in Utah’s general election this fall. The following candidates are running for Congressional Districts 1-3:
UTAH'S 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
The race for Utah’s 1st Congressional District has been highly competitive, with the Democratic nomination contested among four candidates: Ben McAdams, Nate Blouin, Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell.
A Blouin campaign-sponsored survey of 402 likely Democratic primary voters conducted May 27-29 showed McAdams leading with 37%, Blouin trailing in second at 27%, Mohamed at 13% and Farrell at 7%.
Ben McAdams (Democrat)
Ben McAdams previously represented Utah’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2021. He narrowly lost his reelection bid to Rep. Burgess Owens in 2020 by 3,665 votes, less than 1% of the total vote.
Due to recent redistricting, the Democratic-leaning areas of Salt Lake City are now part of the 1st congressional district, giving McAdams a more favorable electoral landscape for a Democrat to return to Congress.
On his website, McAdams said he is running again because “Washington has forgotten what real life feels like.”
His campaign is focused on protecting the environment, lowering costs, building economic security for working families, defending democracy and defending human rights.
Nate Blouin (Progressive)
State Sen. Nate Blouin said running was an easy decision, driven by concerns over economic inequality and corporate influence in politics.
“We can’t bring down the cost of housing, health care, or groceries when the people writing the laws answer to billionaires and corporate PACs instead of the people paying the bill,” he said. “That’s the most urgent issue, because nothing else gets fixed until we deal with it.”
Blouin’s campaign emphasizes reducing corporate influence in Washington and fighting against the “corporate PAC stranglehold on Congress.”
“I would take on big corporations without hesitation, especially Big Tech and the crypto industry, and I’m the only candidate in this race positioned to actually do it,” he said.
Blouin said this is something other candidates are not willing to do.
“I’ve taken no corporate PAC money and have no connections to Big Tech or crypto, which means I owe them nothing,” he said.
Aside from taking down big corporations, Blouin has several commitments: A better economy, holding power accountable and standing up for human rights.
Blouin’s “better economy” will focus on Medicare for All, the right to unionize, a tax on millionaires and billionaires, raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour and fighting for more affordable housing.
“Families are getting crushed by the cost of housing, health care, food, and electricity, and Democrats need to be the party that fixes it,” Blouin said.
Blouin will also focus on “ICE Out” legislation, bringing peace to Gaza, and protecting “reproductive freedom without compromise.” The key to this legislation, Blouin said, is rooting out corruption.
“Authoritarianism is rising, and Congress needs fighters, not career politicians,” Blouin said. “No one is above the law, and I’ll fight to hold Trump and his administration accountable for the crimes they’ve committed.”
If elected, Blouin would likely be the only Democrat in Utah’s congressional delegation — an honor that he states will hold immense weight and responsibility.
“As the lone Democratic voice, I’d make sure the country hears the rest of the story: that Utahns don’t all want to sell off our public lands, ban abortion or attack labor unions,” he said.
Liban Mohamed (Progressive)
Liban Mohamed, a 27-year-old progressive candidate, said he entered the race to address the government’s prioritization of corporate power and household costs across Utah.
Mohamed’s campaign is focused on reforms against PAC and corporate spending, health care as a human right, preserving the environment, big tech accountability, and access to housing.
Mohamed stated that his priorities lie in taking down corporate power within politics.
“Voters deserve elected leaders who can put public needs above the wealthy few and special interests, and put their constituents first by lowering costs, expanding affordable housing and health care, creating good-paying jobs and getting corporate money out of politics,” Mohamed said.
If elected, Mohamed’s top legislative priority during his first term would be water rights in Utah and saving the Great Salt Lake.
“I will propose and support enforceable mandatory minimums for the Lake, federal investment in wetland protections, and broader water rights,” he said.
Mohamed also promised to prioritize housing policies to combat the national housing shortage and unaffordable rent across Utah and the United States.
“I will propose incentives to increase new home building and repeal the Faircloth Amendment to expand affordable and public housing,” Mohamed said. “I will bring back renter protections, such as banning corporate price-fixing algorithms and restricting private equity ownership of housing.”
Ultimately, Mohamed stated that his young age gives him an advantage when it comes to young voters. His campaign is focused on bringing everyone to politics.
“This is a big-tent campaign where everyone has a seat at the table,” he said. “Our focus has been on welcoming new people into politics and re-engaging with communities, including young voters who have often felt overlooked.”
If elected, Mohamed stated that his job would be to represent all Utahns — regardless of party alignment.
“My duty is to represent all Utahns, everyone within and outside the margins,” he said. “My job is to ensure that all voices are considered for decisions in Washington.”
Michael Farrell (Progressive)
Michael Farrell, a progressive candidate and tax attorney, has built his campaign for Congress upon creating a more affordable America, banning corporate and super PACs and protecting voting rights.
Farrell entered the race relatively late and as a political unknown, collected 7,000 signatures to get on the ballot. He said that outsider status is an advantage.
“I think being an outsider is actually the point. I’m not a career politician. I didn’t climb a party ladder or wait my turn,” he said. “I was a tax attorney for over a decade. I know how tax loopholes work and how they have been built into our rigged system, and I know how to close them.”
He said the most pressing issues in the district are rising housing, health care and grocery costs. Farrell has also pledged to ban data centers in Utah and to save the Great Salt Lake — two issues that concern many Utahns.
“What constituents want is pretty simple: someone who will show up, answer their calls, and spend their time in office actually working on the problems that affect everyday life, not fundraising and campaigning for the next cycle,” Farrell said.
Farrell is also focused on appealing beyond the Democratic base, focusing on bipartisan issues for all Utahns.
“The Great Salt Lake is a bipartisan issue in this state, and banning Congressional stock trading is something that resonates with Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike,” he said.
He also argued that court reform is essential for lasting policy change, pointing to recent Supreme Court decisions.
“We’ve watched a Supreme Court that has gutted voting rights protections, overturned decades of precedent on reproductive rights, and narrowed the federal government’s ability to regulate anything from environmental rules to financial protections,” he said.
Farrell stated that this is something his opponents aren’t talking about enough.
“At least one of my opponents in this race is unaware that the House of Representatives would play a role in expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court. This shows a level of unseriousness not befitting someone who wants to serve in Congress,” Farrell said.
Farrell said structural reforms such as expanding the Supreme Court to 13 seats and implementing term limits would be priorities if elected.
He added that, as Utah’s sole Democratic representative if elected, he would focus on accountability and constituent engagement.
“Being Utah’s only Democrat in Congress would mean being a watchdog, being a voice for accountability, and being genuinely available to constituents, not just the ones who write checks,” he said.
UTAH'S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
The race for Utah’s 2nd congressional district has also been influenced by recent court-ordered redistricting. Republican candidates Blake D. Moore and Karianne Lisonbee have centered their campaigns on the effects of redistricting and what they believe rural western and southern Utah communities need.
One of the biggest differences between Moore and Lisonbee’s efforts is the money raised for their campaigns. As of April 5, Moore had raised a sum of $2,020,031.73 in comparison to the $153,667.06 raised by Friends of Karianne Lisonbee.
Moore’s campaign-sponsored Democratic primary survey, which was conducted May 11-14 among 404 likely Democratic primary voters, showed Moore at 63%, Lisonbee at 29%, and 7% undecided.
Blake D. Moore (Republican)
Blake D. Moore has served as the U.S. representative for Utah’s 1st Congressional District since 2021. In 2023, Moore joined House leadership as the vice chair of the House Republican Conference, becoming the first Utahn elected to House or Senate leadership.
Because of redistricting, Moore is now running for the 2nd Congressional District — a shift he said he has become accustomed to.
“I’ve been in Congress for three terms, and this is the third map that I’ll have,” Moore said. “These are consistently changing, and it’s been great.”
Moore’s campaign emphasizes his legislative record and continued policy goals.
“It’s not often that you get to be able to stand up there and tell your voters that you’ve delivered on promises you’ve made,” he said. “So my record is pretty clear that we’ve been extremely productive.”
Moore pointed to his success in making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and delivering funding for the Hill Air Force Base. He also noted the work he has completed on the tax portion of the Trump Accounts, including the expansion of the child investment accounts.
Moore also highlighted his efforts on Great Salt Lake preservation, including the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act in 2022.
“This is a massive aspect to an ecosystem that doesn’t just affect our backyards; this affects the Western United States and the bird migration,” he said. “So, we passed the bill, and we engaged the federal government.”
Looking ahead, Moore said deficit reduction is a top priority.
“I want to be able to find ways to reduce spending so we have fewer debt servicing issues going forward,” he said. “It should be priority number one for the Trump administration in its last two years, and Congress needs to be heavily focused on it as well.”
Despite the criticism he has faced, Moore said outcomes matter most.
“None of it matters when you’re going to actually accomplish things like the Trump Accounts or supporting Hill Air Force Base. I’m in the best position to be able to continue to do it, and it is some of the most motivating things ever,” Moore said.
Karianne Lisonbee (Republican)
Karianne Lisonbee has served in the Utah House of Representatives for the 14th District since 2016. Lisonbee stated that she was encouraged by conservative leaders all over the state to run for the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District.
“They felt that Blake Moore’s involvement with Better Boundaries, resulting in a Democrat Congressional District in Utah, was just another example of him being out of touch with his voters,” she said.
Lisonbee said being “out of touch” extends beyond boundary issues.
“He has also lost touch with his voters by supporting out-of-control spending bills that are adding to our debt and deficit. Blake is mortgaging our children and grandchildren’s future,” Lisonbee said.
Redistricting has led to a number of concerns for Lisonbee.
“The intent was supposed to make districts that were more ‘fair,’” she said. “But the process seemed to ignore the directive in the Utah Constitution for the legislature to draw maps and resulted in districts that are more deeply partisan.”
Lisonbee’s campaign is focused on securing the border, fiscal responsibility, pro-life legislation, funding for the Hill Air Force Base, the Make America Healthy Again movement, banning congressional stock trading and cutting gas taxes.
She stated that her biggest priority, once elected, is to tackle unsustainable debt and deficit.
“We are speeding toward a fiscal cliff and running out of room to slow down. If we don’t do something soon, it’s not going to end well,” she said.
Overall, Lisonbee says she just wants Utahns to feel seen.
“I want northern Utahns to recognize me as a listener who won’t lose touch with the voters who sent me to DC,” she said.
UTAH'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Prior to redistricting, Mike Kennedy represented Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. However, due to redrawn district boundaries, Kennedy is running for the 4th Congressional District.
Republican candidates Celeste Maloy and Phil Lyman entered the race to represent Utah’s new 3rd Congressional District, which includes areas in southern and eastern Utah, such as Orem and Provo. Their campaigns have been focused on the district’s economic diversity, data center development and public lands policy.
Celeste Maloy (Republican)
Before redistricting, Celeste Maloy served as the U.S. representative for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District. Following redistricting, she is now running for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District.
Maloy’s campaign is centered around lowering costs and making life more affordable. She referenced her legislation on providing tax cuts, which increased “take-home pay by $10,000 per year, eliminated taxes on tips and overtime, and cut taxes for 88% of seniors on Social Security.”
Aside from economic issues, Maloy is also focused on securing the border, protecting religious freedoms, controlling spending, defending the 2nd Amendment and pro-life values, gaining control of Utah’s lands and resources, and maintaining Utah’s military.
Phil Lyman (Republican)
Phil Lyman represented the 69th district in the Utah House of Representatives from 2019 to 2024. He later ran for governor of Utah in 2024, challenging incumbent Spencer Cox in the Republican primary, where he lost 45% to 54%.
In the past, Lyman has taken strong stances on election transparency and signature verification, arguing that the “system is fundamentally flawed.”
Following a similar suit in the primary race for the 3rd Congressional District, Lyman is focused on transparency and election reforms. Lyman is arguing that mail-in ballots allow groups and individuals to cheat, highlighting how Utah is the only red state in the U.S. that utilizes the feature.
Aside from election reforms, Lyman is focused on securing energy independence for Utah, protecting water rights, keeping public lands open for outdoor recreation, returning education decisions to local communities, and pushing back against federal overreach on Utah’s public lands.
Lyman’s fight against federal overreach on public lands began in 2014 when he led an illegal ATV protest in southern Utah. The land he protested federal overreach on was closed by the BLM to protect prehistoric archaeological sites. Lyman was pardoned by President Trump for his criminal charges in 2020.
Lyman’s has prioritized his focus on public lands and recreation access because the 3rd Congressional District includes several national and state parks.
On his website, Lyman pledges to “ensure that hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts can continue to enjoy Utah’s public lands without government overreach.”
Utah’s congressional primary races reflect a reshaped political landscape, with candidates across all districts emphasizing affordability, government transparency, data centers and water rights.
Ballots for Utah’s primary election were mailed to voters on June 2. They must be returned by June 16 at 5 p.m. In-person voting began June 9 and will continue until Election Day on June 23. For more information on where you can vote, visit Vote.Utah.gov.