Centrist Democrats see a rare opportunity in Utah House race

Former Congressman Ben McAdams Gains Momentum in Utah’s Political Landscape

In a rare twist for Utah’s staunchly Republican political arena, former Congressman Ben McAdams is garnering early backing from a significant national political action committee. As new political boundaries emerge, they present a surprising opportunity for Democrats to gain a foothold in the Beehive State.

McAdams, who previously achieved a notable victory as a Democrat in Utah, is being championed by Welcome PAC. This organization prefers to support moderate candidates over their more progressive counterparts for what is anticipated to be a newly established congressional district, as indicated in an email obtained by POLITICO.

“Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. But it’s usually the best clue we’ve got,” reads the fundraising email, which was slated for distribution to Democrats nationwide. “Ben McAdams is a superstar.”

This email outlines the preliminary framework of a race that could aid Democrats in their quest to reclaim the House during the upcoming midterms—a challenge complicated by the nationwide redistricting upheaval instigated by former President Donald Trump’s push for new congressional boundaries in Texas.

Under the newly redrawn lines in Utah, Democrats might have the chance to secure one or two additional seats. This shift follows a redistricting battle that predated Trump’s influence, which sparked a wave of gerrymandering in multiple states, both Republican and Democrat-led, including Indiana and California. A recent analysis by the Salt Lake Tribune suggests that the most competitive newly drawn districts in Utah could have Republican leanings of R +6 and R +11—significantly less daunting than the 23+ point margins Democrats faced in 2024 federal races.

In 2018, McAdams triumphed over the late Rep. Mia Love, who had previously won her election by a margin of 12 points. However, in 2020, McAdams narrowly lost to Republican Burgess Owens by just one percentage point.

While McAdams has yet to formally launch his campaign, he submitted a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month, allowing him to start fundraising. Sources close to him indicate he plans to announce his candidacy once the new district map is finalized. The former congressman has opted not to comment publicly on the situation.

“He’s clearly the strongest candidate Dems have had anywhere in nearly a decade,” remarked Liam Kerr, co-founder of Welcome PAC. “We want to leverage our platform to encourage him to run and inspire our supporters to contribute to his campaign.”

However, McAdams is not the only contender in this emerging political landscape. Potential primary challengers include 2024 Senate candidate Caroline Gleich, state Senators Kathleen Riebe and Nate Blouin, and 2022 Senate candidate Kael Weston, none of whom have officially declared their candidacies yet.

Welcome PAC has been making significant strides in the center-left political sphere since Trump’s reelection. Their WelcomeFest conference in June featured prominent Democrats from swing states, including Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin and Maine Representative Jared Golden. Recently, they released a comprehensive report outlining strategies for Democrats to rebound after their setbacks in the 2024 elections.

“When people read the report, they ask, ‘What should we do?’ And it’s like, ‘Well, here’s a clear example,’” Kerr explained to POLITICO regarding the support for McAdams.

During his time in Congress, McAdams was affiliated with the Blue Dog Coalition—a group of moderate Democrats now led by Golden and Washington Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, both of whom serve in districts that Trump won. Before his congressional tenure, he was the mayor of Salt Lake County.

The new congressional map for Utah is still pending approval. In August, a district judge ruled that the existing map—which splits blue Salt Lake County into four districts—disregarded the intent of a 2018 ballot initiative that called for an independent commission to delineate district boundaries. The Republican-controlled state legislature subsequently crafted a new map that favors Republicans, yet still offers Democrats a more viable path to victory than the current arrangement.

A district judge has until November 10 to endorse the new map for it to be enacted for the 2026 elections.

“Right now, Democrats are focused on winning,” said a Utah Democratic strategist who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “We recognize this is a monumental opportunity to get serious about our prospects.”