The race for Utah’s newly drawn 1st Congressional District got a little less crowded Saturday: State Sen. Kathleen Riebe exited the Democratic primary and threw her support to former Rep. Ben McAdams, taking a parting swipe at rival state Sen. Nate Blouin.
Riebe announced her exit from the race at the Salt Lake County Democratic convention at Highland High School on Saturday afternoon.
She said she was backing McAdams over Blouin because of experience and temperament.
“I didn’t want someone who will be volatile and confrontational,” Riebe said, taking a veiled shot at Blouin. “That’s too much of a risk.”
Riebe said she stepped aside to avoid splitting support with McAdams in the primary.
“I believe I’ve been a cohesive unit and tried to be a good face for the Democratic Party. I’ve tried really hard to bring us together by strength. I don’t see Nate doing that, and I see Ben being a better cohesive agent than Nate right now. I think our world is hurting, and I think our state is hurting, and to send someone to Congress that will just rabble-rouse doesn’t make any sense to me.
During her remarks from the stage announcing her exit from the race, Riebe continued her criticism of Blouin.
"I know that it's important to send a leader to Washington that is ready to go. Tweeting is not leading, and listening is what we need right now," Riebe said.
She also pointed to sluggish fundraising as another motivating factor for her leaving the race.
McAdams said Saturday that Riebe's announcement caught him by surprise.
"She is such a strong leader. She's somebody who in the legislature knows how to get things done. She passes legislation. She stands her ground and she works with her colleagues to move the needle. So to receive the endorsement of such a strong leader as Kathleen Riebe who knows what it takes to win, is really an honor to me. I'm humbled and I'm grateful," McAdams said.
Blouin said he was disappointed by Riebe's endorsement of McAdams, but said it wouldn't change how his campaign approaches the race, which he sees as a two-way contest with McAdams.
"I appreciate Senator Riebe’s work over the years. I think we share a lot in common. And so it's always disappointing when someone moves the other direction, but I don't think it changes the calculus of the race," Blouin said.
Riebe was the first candidate to jump into the race after the new congressional boundaries were put in place last November. Since then, she has struggled to gain traction. A recent poll of the primary race shows her in third place in the crowded primary field with 7% support, trailing McAdams (36%) and Blouin (23%).
This is Riebe’s second run for Congress. She was the Democratic nominee in the 2023 special election to replace former Rep. Chris Stewart and lost to Republican Celeste Maloy, 57-33%.
Riebe is the second Democrat to bow out. Former state Sen. Derek Kitchen withdrew in March. That leaves six Democrats in the race. McAdams and Blouin have already qualified for the primary election through signature gathering.
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