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A Breakdown of Congressional Candidates on Utah Primary Ballots

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by Lauren Steinbrecher • Published on • Last modified on
Utah Insight

The June primary election is shaping up to be a big one in Utah, as both Republican and Democratic congressional candidates in newly drawn districts fight for votes to advance to the November election. Here’s a breakdown of who’s on each ballot, how they qualified, and what’s driving the races in Utah’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Congressional Districts. 

Republican incumbents fighting to keep seats

For the GOP primary, two sitting members of Congress will each face one challenger in Congressional Districts 2 and 3.

Utah’s new 2nd Congressional District encompasses northern Utah, where Congressman Blake Moore wants voters to send him back to Washington for a fourth term. 

“From the child tax credit to the permit, to the Small Business Growth Act, I passed more individual pieces of legislation than anyone else in what will be President Trump's most significant legislative achievement,” Moore told delegates, at the state Republican nominating convention in April.

“What I'm most proud of achieving,” Moore continued, “is passing the Trump accounts. President Trump even gave me a shout out in the State of the Union.”

He’ll face current Utah House of Representatives member Karianne Lisonbee, who won the support of 61% of delegates at the nominating convention.

In her speech to delegates, Lisonbee said she would “work to remove the barriers” between constituents and their “financial and family freedom.”

“The checks and balances of government must be restored,” Lisonbee said. “Over my ten years in the state legislature, I reduced taxes and increased public safety. I reformed the budget process here, and I will work with conservatives in DC to fix it there.”

While Moore didn’t receive enough votes at convention to qualify for the primary, he did gather the required 7,000 signatures to secure a place on the ballot.

Heading south to Utah’s new 3rd Congressional District, voters will choose between another sitting member of congress and a local challenger. 

Congresswoman Celeste Maloy said she believes her conservative record speaks for itself, and that Utahns should rely on her connections to keep getting results. 

“Experience and know-how really matter in this job,” Maloy said to delegates. “I’ve been doing the job for just a little more than two years. I’m passing bills that fix problems in Utah, I’m on two committees that are really important for the state.”

Those two committees, she said, are the Natural Resources Committee and Appropriations Committee. She also brought up chairing the Western Caucus.

WATCH: Republican Primary Candidates | Utah Insight [May 4, 2026]

“Which is the most important policy body for rural issues, natural resources issues—all important in Utah,” Maloy said. “And, I’m working with President Donald J. Trump to make sure we’re getting the money he promised to make the Great Salt Lake great again.”

She’s facing former member of the Utah House of Representatives Phil Lyman, who also ran for governor two years ago. 

He’s running on a platform that mirrors talking points voters may recognize from previous campaigns of President Donald Trump.

“We’re taking this country back,” Lyman told delegates. “We’re cleaning up our corrupt elections. We’re stopping the invasion of America. We’re shining a light where darkness has prevailed for a generation. It’s called transparency.”

Lyman called for auditing voter lists, saying he’s “going to expose waste, fraud and abuse.”

“It’s time to send a message to the establishment that they do not control all of the politics in Utah,” he said.

Maloy and Lyman nearly tied for the delegate vote at convention, with Maloy squeaking in front at 50.95% and Lyman closely trailing at 49.04%.

Four Democrats vying for projected blue CD 1

Utah Democrats have four primary candidates to choose from in the Salt Lake County-centered Congressional District 1, projected to turn blue in November.

At the democratic state convention, delegates chose two candidates for the primary, weeding out several others in multiple rounds of ranked choice voting.

The top choice became Liban Mohamed. After most recently working for TikTok, Mohamed’s platform includes accountability for big tech, as well as Medicare for all, and saving the Great Salt Lake.

“The support is growing as people get to know us, what we're about, the campaign that we're running,” Mohamed said, in an interview with reporters. “The positivity that we seek to put out into our community. The fact that we're focused on tangible outcomes for our communities and not headlines.”

Mohamed won the fifth round of ranked choice voting at 51.12% over former Congressman Ben McAdams at 48.88%, sending both to the primary election.

McAdams brought up the actions of his first term, including expanding Medicaid, investing in public lands, and securing LGBTQ protections.

“I have delivered time and again on tough issues. I dive in, roll up my sleeves, and bring people together to deliver results,” McAdams said, in an interview following convention results. “I've also never been afraid to stand my ground like I did when I voted to impeach Donald Trump, knowing it would cost me my election… that's the type of leadership people are going to get from me.”

Current State Senator Nate Blouin didn’t make the cut at convention, but gathered the required 7,000 signatures for his spot on the ballot.

Following the release of controversial online comments he made years ago, Blouin said he’s stronger after reckoning with his past mistakes. He said he will fight for saving the Great Salt Lake, Medicare for all, and to “stop Isreal from bombing schools in Iran.”

“I've got no interest in preserving the status quo. We've got to get the money out and real people in,” he said, to cheers from delegates. “I've been fighting for this community when no one was watching, and I am not stopping now.”

Lastly, tax attorney Michael Farrell also secured his primary spot through signature gathering. His campaign centers on universal healthcare, abolishing ICE, and ending aid to Isreal.

“We need someone who's going to go in there and be a fighter, and I will be that fighter for Utah,” Farrell said. “I will fight for those rights every single day, without apology, without wavering.”

WATCH: Democratic Primary Candidates | Utah Insight [May 4, 2026]