Following Utah’s June 30 primary, Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams, the incumbent for the state’s 4th Congressional District, has more than 28 times the cash in his campaign coffers compared to his Republican challenger, former NFL Player Burgess Owens.
According to the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, Owens had just $90,667 in the bank by the Republican’s primary in late June, where he beat out three other candidates.
McAdams did not have a primary challenger and had more than $2.6 million on hand.
“(That’s) not at all surprising,” said Brigham Young University Political Science Professor Quin Monson. “Burgess Owens just won a hard fought primary victory where he had to spend substantial resources to be the nominee. And so he's depleted the fundraising that he had on hand for the most part.”
But that could change dramatically. Within the next month, Monson said, if national Republican and Democratic groups decide that Owens has a good chance at unseating McAdams, outside money will start to pour into the race.
According to Monson, money spent on this election matters more for Owens than it does for McAdams.
“Ben McAdams is well known by voters, [he] doesn't need to introduce himself at all,” Monson said.
The 4th District leans Republican, but McAdams won it in 2018 by less than 700 votes.
Sonja Hutson covers politics for KUER. Follow her on Twitter @SonjaHutson
