Former U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams has officially launched his bid to return to Congress, saying he is more alarmed about the direction of the nation today than at any point in his life.
Motivated by growing struggles among working families and what he calls a government out of touch with everyday Americans, McAdams said he “could no longer sit on the sidelines.”
McAdams Says Washington Has Lost Touch With Real Families
In a conversation with The Salt Lake Tribune, McAdams expressed deep concern, saying that many Americans are suffering while Washington leaders ignore the daily realities of families like his own.
Raised in West Bountiful by a single mother, McAdams grew up with five siblings in a household that often struggled to make ends meet.
He recalled living paycheck to paycheck, sometimes having the power shut off when bills mounted and facing ongoing medical debt caused by chronic health issues in the family. These experiences, he says, shaped his views on poverty, healthcare, and fairness.
Concerns Over Federal Policies Motivating His Return
McAdams criticized former President Donald Trump’s attempts to cut food assistance programs and reduce Affordable Care Act subsidies, arguing that such actions would make life even harder for low-income families. Seeing these policy moves, he said, pushed him to re-enter the political arena.
“If I can do something about it, I feel an obligation to get involved,” McAdams said.
A Look Back: His First Term and the Impeachment Vote
McAdams previously served one term in Congress from 2018 to 2020. Despite representing a Republican-leaning district, he voted to impeach President Trump in 2019.
He acknowledged that the vote likely cost him re-election, but insists he has no regrets:
“It was the right choice, and I would make it again.”
Warning of Escalating Political Tensions
McAdams claims the stakes in this election cycle are even higher. He pointed to actions involving the Department of Justice, the deployment of the National Guard in U.S. cities, and the detention of more than 170 Americans by ICE, saying these incidents erode constitutional norms.
He accused Trump of “trampling the Constitution” and criticized both Republicans and Democrats—Republicans for enabling Trump, and Democrats for “not doing enough” to stop him.
Rebuilding Trust Within His Own Party
McAdams faces challenges inside the Democratic Party as well. In 2022, he and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson encouraged delegates to support independent candidate Evan McMullin over a Democratic nominee in the race against Sen. Mike Lee.
Although McMullin underperformed expectations, McAdams stands by the strategy, calling McMullin the best chance to unseat Lee.
He acknowledged that some Democrats prefer a traditional approach but said his decision was centered on “electing someone who could make a real difference.”
New District Map Reshapes the Political Landscape
McAdams is the second Democrat to enter the race after Judge Dianna Gibson selected a plaintiff-submitted map in a redistricting case.
The new map creates a strongly Democratic district in northern Salt Lake County, igniting what may become a competitive primary between McAdams, State Sen. Kathleen Riebe, and potentially others.
This district includes areas where McAdams has deep roots, including his previous roles as Salt Lake County mayor and as a state senator serving parts of Salt Lake City.
McAdams Highlights Achievements and Policy Priorities
McAdams plans to remind voters of his record, which includes:
- Supporting Medicaid expansion for low-income Utahns
- Working to reform homeless services
- Advocating for LGBTQ+ rights
- Advising former Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker
He emphasized that real solutions—not social media battles—will fix rising grocery prices and housing costs.
Key Issues in McAdams’ Campaign
- Rolling back Trump-era tariffs, which he describes as “a food tax hurting American households”
- Ensuring healthcare support for families remains in any federal budget
- Improving affordable housing, a focus of his work since leaving Congress, by encouraging cities to develop unused government land
Ben McAdams’ return to the political stage is driven by a renewed urgency about the direction of the country.
Drawing from personal experience, his previous congressional term, and his deep involvement in local governance, he argues that now is the moment to fight for working families, protect constitutional values, and deliver practical solutions.
As the newly redrawn district shapes up to be Utah’s most competitive Democratic battleground, McAdams enters the race ready to make his case once again.
