Democrat Ben McAdams first to qualify for Utah's new 1st District ballot with signatures
Paywall? Not today.
This story's for everyone. But if you want more of this, subscribe and support independent journalism that answers to readers, not political agendas.
Former Congressman Ben McAdams, a Democrat, is the first signature-gathering candidate to qualify for November’s congressional ballot in Utah’s new 1st District.
McAdams’ campaign reached the required 7,000 verified signatures on Tuesday.
“I’m deeply grateful to the more than 7,000 Utahns who signed and to the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to make it happen. I look forward to taking our campaign directly to the delegates and voters to share my ideas, what I stand for, and my record of getting things done,” McAdams said in a statement to Utah Political Watch.
⏰ Tick Tock
3 days - Signature deadline for ballot initiative seeking to repeal Prop. 4 (2/15/2026)
22 days - The final day of the 2026 Utah Legislature (3/6/2026)
25 days - First day congressional candidates can file to run for the 2026 election. (3/9/2026)
33 days - Neighborhood caucus night. (3/17/2026)
58 days - Utah Forward Party nominating convention (4/11/2026)
72 days - Utah State Republican and Democratic State Party nominating conventions (4/25/2026)
131 days - Utah's 2026 primary election (6/23/2026)
264 days - 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026)
999 days - 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028)
McAdams is one of eight signature-gathering Democratic candidates running in the new 1st Congressional District, which covers most of Salt Lake County. The district exists because 3rd District Judge Dianna Gibson tossed the Legislature’s 2021 map and later rejected its remedial map as an illegal gerrymander under Prop. 4, instead installing the plaintiffs’ map that yields a Democratic-leaning seat in Salt Lake County.
The map may not survive. The Legislature is appealing Gibson’s decision to the Utah Supreme Court, while a coalition of GOP officials, including Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens, is suing in federal court. A hearing is set for next week.
Verified signature totals for the other Democratic candidates as of Thursday morning (7,000 needed to qualify):
- Nate Blouin - 3,686
- Eva Lopez Chavez - 1,106
- Liban Mohamed - 689
- Michael Farrell - 18
- Kathleen Riebe - 0
- Derek Kitchen - 0
- Luis Villarreal - 0
Last week, Republican Dave Robinson joined the signature-gathering scramble for the new 1st District.
Comments