Ben McAdams Wins Democratic Primary in Utah’s First Congressional District

Former Utah Congressman Ben McAdams has won the Democratic primary for the state’s newly drawn First Congressional District, bringing him one step closer to returning to Congress.

“Tonight belongs to every Utahn who looked at this race and said we need someone with the courage to stand up and to stand alone and the courage to reach across differences to get it done,” McAdams told supporters after the race was called on June 23.

McAdams defeated three progressive candidates: state Sen. Nate Blouin and political newcomers Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell. McAdams will face Republican candidate Riley Owen, an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve, in the November election.

McAdams in his speech outlined his previous work in Congress to expand healthcare, invest in public lands, and secure protections for LGBT communities. He said the defining vote of his previous term in Congress was his vote to impeach President Donald Trump.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, congratulated McAdams on his victory.

“When he returns to Congress, he will be a commonsense champion for lowering costs, making housing more affordable, creating jobs and investing in small businesses, protecting healthcare and our environment, and safeguarding civil rights,” Martin said in a statement.

“The DNC is ready to help organize and mobilize voters to elect McAdams, flip the House, and ensure Utah has a leader who will always put working families first.”

McAdams previously served as the representative for Utah’s Fourth Congressional District from 2019 to 2021 after unseating the now-deceased Republican Mia Love in 2018. He lost his reelection bid to Republican Burgess Owens in the 2020 election.

Prior to serving in Congress, McAdams was a member of the Utah state senate from 2008 to 2012 and later served as mayor of Salt Lake County from 2013 to 2019, according to his biography.

The Salt Lake City area’s First Congressional District was established last fall after a judge ruled in August 2025 that Utah’s Republican-controlled legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when drawing the state’s previous congressional map. Utah’s three other congressional seats are considered safely Republican.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.