Utah 1st District
This is a newly drawn district, so nobody holds the seat. 4 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Ben McAdams
Democrat · former congressman and Salt Lake County mayor
CLiberty Score C75 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what McAdams has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for McAdams.
Raised $2,813,807 since January 2025: 85% from people, 12% from PACs and other committees, 3% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Riley Owen
Republican · navy reserve intelligence officer, former White House analyst
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Owen, and what Owen has said and done settles only 1 of my principles. I went through it on October 28. A grade needs 4.
Raised $164,070 since January 2025: 72% from people, 18% the candidate’s own money, 10% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Utah: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Ben McAdams, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for McAdams, so the grade above comes from this list: what McAdams has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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As a member of the US House in January 2020 he voted no on a war powers resolution directing the President to end the use of US forces in hostilities in or against Iran.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Voting against a war powers resolution aimed at stopping action against Iran is with liberty on tyranny.
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His campaign says he will stand up to Trump to end the war in Iran.
“I'll stand up to Trump to end his illegal war in Iran and the tariffs driving up costs for Utah families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
End the war with no bill or policy named is unclear under the site's precedent.
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As a member of the US House in 2019 he voted yes on a resolution opposing the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Voting to oppose the BDS movement is opposing BDS, which is with liberty on free nations.
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Says he will work to strengthen America's alliances.
“In Congress, I will work to strengthen, not weaken, our alliances so that America can again be a trusted partner and respected leader on the global stage.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing alliances and rejecting isolation is the with side of the measure.
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Says he would roll back the tax cuts passed in the 2025 tax and spending bill.
“First of all, it would be rolling back the tax cuts for billionaires and corporations that passed in the Big Beautiful Bill”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Rolling back named tax cuts is higher taxes, the against side.
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Says he stands against Trump's tariffs.
“I’m focused on tackling the affordability crisis by standing against Trump’s tariffs that are driving up the cost of groceries and everyday items”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs follows the with side, as with every candidate.
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Says he was the only member of Utah's delegation to vote for the Equality Act.
“In Congress, I was the only member of Utah’s delegation to vote for the Equality Act”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The words do not name sport, schools or prisons, so they do not settle the measure.
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As a member of the US House in 2019 he voted yes on passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Voting to pass the annual defence authorisation funds the armed forces, which is with liberty on defense.
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His platform criticises ICE patrols and immigrants removed from families without due process.
“ICE and the National Guard sent to patrol our streets, peaceful protesters shot and killed, not to mention the thousands of hard working and law abiding immigrants ripped from their families without an ounce of due process.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing ICE patrols and removals is the against side of the measure.
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Says that in Congress he voted for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
“In Congress, I voted to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and supported comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding immigrants who contribute to our communities.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is on the against side of the measure.
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Says he would dismantle the current immigration enforcement model and replace it.
“I will work to dismantle the current enforcement model that relies on fear and indiscriminate raids, replace it with a system rooted in constitutional protections, and refocus federal resources on genuine public safety threats.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Dismantling the present enforcement model and ending raids opposes enforcing the law as the measure defines it.
Riley Owen, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Owen, so the grade above comes from this list: what Owen has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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He says tariffs should not be levied only to make foreign goods dearer.
“I don't think we should be levying tariffs just to make foreign goods more expensive.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He opposes tariffs for their own sake but backs targeted ones, so the line does not settle the measure.
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In the debate he said he does not think taxes need to be raised even more, without naming a tax.
“I don't think we need to raise taxes even more.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No tax is named, so it is unclear per the brief.
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His voter-guide answer proposes expanding business tax credits for employers who offer paid maternity leave.
“We must also lower costs of raising families by expanding business tax credits to those offering paid maternity leave.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A named tax credit expansion is a tax cut, which the measure counts as with.
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A voter-guide profile of him says he will fix the immigration system by maintaining the rule of law, with no border or deportation policy named.
“Riley will fix our broken immigration system by maintaining the rule of law”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No enforcement or amnesty policy is named, so it does not settle a side.
Also on the ballot
Elias Montgomery (Independent), Jesse West (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
Utah 1st District
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