Ben McAdams vs. Riley Owen: The Battle for Utah’s 1st Congressional District

“I didn’t see a conservative running that I wanted to vote for,” says Riley Owen. Those words, reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, set the stage for a contest in Utah’s 1st Congressional District. On November 3, 2026, voters will decide between Owen, a former Trump staffer and Navy Reserve intelligence officer, and Ben McAdams, a veteran Democratic politician and former U.S. Representative who is attempting a political comeback.

This race is more than a personality contest; it is a test of whether a “blue-leaning” district in a deep-red state can actually sustain a Democrat, or if a moderate Republican can capture the center. The stakes extend to the 120th Congress, where the partisan balance of the U.S. House remains razor-thin. For Utahns, the outcome will determine if their representation leans toward market-based incentives or a more expansive government approach to affordability and social services.

A Clash of Two White House Legacies

The symmetry of their backgrounds is striking. In 1998, Ben McAdams was a college student clipping news articles as an intern for President Bill Clinton. In that same year, Riley Owen was born. By 2020, the roles had reversed: Owen was in the West Wing serving as a staffer for President Donald Trump, while McAdams was in the midst of his tenure in Congress, grappling with the political fallout of his vote to impeach Trump.

Owen’s trajectory has been one of rapid, high-level exposure. A Princeton graduate and Eisenhower Scholar at Oxford, Owen’s resume includes work in industry across the shipbuilding, critical minerals, and drone sectors. He brings a technocratic, security-focused lens to the race, emphasizing his experience as a Navy Reserve officer and his work in shipbuilding.

McAdams, by contrast, anchors his identity in his upbringing. As detailed by The Salt Lake Tribune, McAdams recalls a childhood where he had to scrape together enough money to get by. To fund his own White House internship in the late 90s, he would start his days at 6 a.m. loading bags at the Salt Lake airport. He presents himself as the candidate who understands the visceral struggle of making ends meet.

The Middle Ground in a Divided Map

While they sit on opposite sides of the aisle, a September 29 debate at Salt Lake Community College revealed an unexpected overlap. Both candidates expressed frustration with the current state of congressional polarization. They found common ground on the need for federal AI regulations and the urgent necessity of conserving the Great Salt Lake.

The very existence of the 1st District is the result of a gerrymandering lawsuit. The candidates’ reactions to this shift highlight their different political instincts:

• Ben McAdams views the new map as a victory against a system where politicians cater to extremes to survive.
• Riley Owen expressed frustration with the maps, arguing that creating one “blue” district and three “deep red” districts breeds extremism on both sides.

Despite these shared frustrations, the divide remains sharp on the role of the state. Owen argues for market-based incentives, while McAdams pushes for a platform of affordability, advocating for higher wages and accessible healthcare. Ballotpedia notes that McAdams is running on the premise that current politicians in both parties are “out of touch” with the working class.

Candidates Face Skepticism over Moderate Positioning

Both men are positioning themselves as moderates, but they face skepticism from their respective bases. McAdams has a history of splitting from his own caucus, but he remains doubtful that a Republican will do the same once in power. He pointed to the Dream Act as an example, noting that while the Utah delegation spoke of support, he was the only one who actually voted for it.

“I think there are numerous things that are the root of the corruption of Congress and the frustration with its inability to actually rise to the challenges and to solve problems, and we have incredible challenges today that we need them to rise to,” McAdams said during the September debate. “At the crux of it, I would put gerrymandering, where politicians win or lose their election by catering to extremes, and we now live in a climate that, if you work across the aisle, it is to your own peril.”

Owen, meanwhile, is attempting to carve out a space for a “solution-oriented” conservatism. He has distanced himself from some of the Trump administration’s agenda, stating that while the former president got some things right, he got others wrong.

Candidates Highlight Cost of Living and Affordability

For the residents of the 1st District, candidates have highlighted issues such as the cost of living and affordability. McAdams is leaning heavily into the “affordability” narrative, citing the need for homes that families can actually afford. Owen focuses on market-based incentives.

The race also includes Independent candidate Elias Montgomery and Libertarian Jesse West, though they failed to meet the 10% support threshold required to participate in the debate. This leaves the choice largely between two men who have both walked the halls of power but from entirely different directions.

Whether the district chooses the lived experience of a former mayor and congressman or the technical expertise of a naval officer and policy analyst, the result will be a signal of how Utah views the balance between government intervention and market freedom in an era of extreme political volatility.