Republican Blake Moore, a political newcomer with experience in the private sector and the State Department, and Democrat Darren Parry, former chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, are vying to replace outgoing Congressman Rob Bishop in Utah’s 1st Congressional District.
For this guide, Blake Moore and Darren Parry responded to KUER’s candidate survey. The information below is based on the survey, KUER's past reporting and publicly available campaign information.
Federal Pandemic Aid
Parry
Supports a pandemic relief bill focused on small businesses and people. Says the federal government can’t solve all problems, but has a role in protecting the community.
Moore
Opposes federally mandated shutdowns. Wants the federal government to defer to state and local authorities for pandemic response. Says relief packages shouldn’t disincentivize employees from working.
Affordable Care Act
Parry
Opposes repeal. Says health care should be made affordable and that people who like their current plans should be allowed to keep them.
Moore
Supports repeal. Says states should manage health care policies and the federal government should try to limit medical monopolies.
Police Reform
Parry
Supports police reform, but says that should happen at the local level. Supports a ban on chokeholds, ending qualified immunity and hiring more social workers.
Moore
Supports law enforcement, but says the federal government can incentivize good reforms. Wants federal legislation to end qualified immunity. Opposes defunding the police without “offering real solutions.”
Energy And The Uinta Basin Economy
Parry
Says Native American tribes also depend on the oil and gas industry, and wants to ensure that renewable energy jobs come to the Uinta Basin. Says it is wrong to destroy the rural economy in the name of climate change solutions.
Moore
Says the oil and gas industry is crucial for Utah’s economy. Says internet and roads development will diversify the economy and market forces will make oil and gas harvesting more efficient and bring new jobs through renewable projects.
Federal Deficit
Parry
Wants to work with both parties to balance the budget, even with the need for emergency spending during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our spending is getting out of control, and while I understand the need for emergency spending for a COVID-19 economy, I will work with both parties to pass a balanced budget.”
Moore
Says federal departments are incentivized to be inefficient to protect their funding and congress is incentivized to pass omnibus bills that fund special projects.
"Our debt represents a complete failure of our leaders to commit to protecting our fiscal stability and national security. We had a balanced budget less than 25 years ago with a Democrat president and a Republican legislature. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.”
