Ben McAdams

As Democrat Ben McAdams heads into November, his win is adding new political uncertainty to any effort by Republican lawmakers to ask voters to weaken the state's independent redistricting commission.

McAdams emerged as the clear winner from a crowded primary field of four candidates. He was also the last Utah Democrat to serve in Congress, representing the old 4th District from 2019-2021

This special episode of State Street is a one-on-one sit-down with 1st Congressional District Democratic primary candidate Ben McAdams.

Ben McAdams was the last Democrat to represent Utah in D.C., and he wants the voters of the new 1st Congressional District to send him back. Utah’s primary election is June 23, 2026.

Former congressman Ben McAdams, State Sen. Nate Blouin, and newcomers Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell are vying for the Democratic nomination in Utah’s new left-leaning congressional district.

KUER will carry live coverage of the 2026 1st Congressional District Democratic primary debate, online and on air, on Wednesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. MDT.

A late-stage push to unite Utah’s progressive vote has state Sen. Nate Blouin polling likely Democratic voters. Michael Farrell and Liban Mohamed say they’re not on board.

Polls show the public takes a dim view of insider trading in Washington and supports more guardrails against corruption. The debates have scrambled ideological lines inside the Democratic Party, with more moderate lawmakers attacking progressive rivals over past stock trades.

Strong backing from progressive voters propelled Liban Mohamed to a Utah Democratic Party nominating convention win. Embattled Eva Lopez Chavez and Luis Villareal were eliminated from the primary.

Utah lawmakers bought time to appeal the redrawn map in a special session, but they also created conditions that could have candidates thinking: “This is my chance to run against somebody. I don't have to necessarily wait in line.”

After months of speculation, Ben McAdams has formally announced his candidacy for Congress. He is the last Democrat to represent Utah in Washington, D.C., where he served the 4th District till 2021.

Love, whose political career included serving Saratoga Springs and Utah’s 4th Congressional District, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer, in 2022.