For the first time in many years, Utah Democrats have been handed a major political advantage: a newly drawn congressional map that gives them a solidly blue district. A judge approved the map last week, instantly creating the safest Democratic seat Utah has seen in decades.
This is encouraging news for the party, which hasn’t elected one of its own to Congress since 2021. However, the new landscape brings complications — especially for former Rep. Ben McAdams, a well-known moderate whose success has long depended on appealing to centrist voters.
A District Built for Democrats — and New Competition
A Blue Stronghold Emerges
The revised Utah 1st Congressional District, made up of the most progressive neighborhoods in Salt Lake County, is now the friendliest political territory Democrats have had in a generation. Kamala Harris won the area by more than 23 points in 2024, despite losing Utah overall by over 20 points.
For many hopefuls, this shift instantly changed their political ambitions.
“About a thousand people woke up Tuesday morning and said, ‘Wow, I look like a congressional candidate,’” joked state Democratic Party chair Brian King, highlighting just how many Democrats now see an opportunity.
McAdams Faces a New Kind of Challenge
Although Ben McAdams previously represented much of this area as a state legislator and Salt Lake County mayor, the new district shifts the dynamics.
His reputation as a moderate Democrat has always helped him compete in conservative-leaning areas. But in a deep-blue district, progressive challengers are suddenly a bigger obstacle.
McAdams has early momentum: major donors, strong backing from Welcome PAC, and more than $500,000 raised in the first 24 hours of his campaign. He has endorsements from the Salt Lake City mayor and the City Council.
Even so, he downplays any concerns.
“Competition is good,” he said. “I’m ready to earn Democrats’ trust again.”
Progressives See Their Chance
A Primary Field That Keeps Growing
The progressive wing of the party sees this moment as their long-awaited opening. Former party chair Jeff Merchant noted that moderates may struggle to win over progressives who have never had a realistic chance of electing one of their own before.
The candidate list shows this enthusiasm:
- State Sen. Kathleen Riebe is officially running.
- Environmental advocate Caroline Gleich is “seriously considering” joining.
- Former Senate candidate and diplomat Kael Weston says he is “closer every day” to entering the race.
- State Sen. Nate Blouin, who previously said he would only run in a deep-blue district, is also weighing his chances.
Political strategist Frank Pignanelli summed it up: “With this new map, candidates jumped in as fast as they could.”
Utah’s Redistricting Fight Is Still Unfolding
A Battle Over Maps and Power
The new political map sprang from a long legal fight. A judge ruled that the 2021 Republican-drawn map, which split Salt Lake County four ways, violated voters’ demand for an independent redistricting commission. The judge ordered a redraw, but the GOP Legislature created another map that still favored Republicans.
Last week, Judge Dianna Gibson rejected the GOP map and approved one proposed by the plaintiffs — creating the deep-blue district now at the center of the primary drama.
Republican leaders are furious. They’re trying to:
- Delay the candidate filing deadline
- Appeal the judge’s ruling
- Even consider impeaching Judge Gibson
If the ruling survives, it becomes the best pickup chance for Utah Democrats in years — and attracts rare national attention. EMILYs List may invest in the race for the first time since the 1990s.
Utah’s Unique Political Culture on Display
Candidates in this race bring personal stories that reflect Utah’s diverse history:
- Gleich highlights her legendary skiing of Utah’s steep chutes.
- McAdams talks about his missionary experience in Brazil.
- Weston notes his ancestry includes plural wives of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
As former state senator Scott Howell explains: “Candidates don’t have to be LDS, but they must understand Utah’s culture.”
Progressives Push a Values-First Strategy
Advisers argue that in a district this blue, there’s no need to appeal to moderates.
“The Democratic nominee will win easily,” said strategist Ian Russell. “So we don’t have to compromise our values.”
But McAdams’ history complicates the picture. In 2022, he led the controversial effort to support independent Evan McMullin for Senate rather than back the Democratic nominee, frustrating many progressives. Though McMullin earned 92% of Democratic support, he lost badly statewide, leaving long-term political tension.
Some, like Weston, believe the party is still recovering. Others, like former Salt Lake County mayor Peter Corroon, say Democrats have moved on.
Could a Crowded Field Help McAdams?
Strategists point out that many Utah Democrats lean moderate, unlike voters in cities such as Denver or Seattle. Democratic consultant Ian Koski argues that running on pure progressive ideals won’t be enough.
A split progressive vote could boost McAdams — especially given Utah’s unique primary rules. Candidates can reach the ballot by:
- Winning enough support at the party convention, or
- Gathering signatures — a difficult and expensive task.
Many of Utah’s biggest Democratic donors live in Park City, just outside the new district but still influential.
As donor and former ambassador Mark Gilbert put it:
“People want representation that matches their beliefs in Washington.”
Utah’s new deep-blue district marks a transformational moment for Utah Democrats, creating their strongest chance in years to reclaim a seat in Congress. But it also invites a fierce, crowded, and unpredictable primary between moderates and progressives.
With high-profile candidates, cultural storytelling, legal battles, and national eyes watching, the Utah Democratic primary is shaping up to be one of the most compelling political contests of the year.
Whether moderation or progressivism prevails, the winner will represent the first truly secure Democratic seat Utah has seen in decades.
