Utah 1st Congressional District Democratic candidate Ben McAdams joins Utah Political Watch for a wide-ranging interview ahead of the June 23 primary election.
McAdams, a former state senator, Salt Lake County Mayor, and one-term congressman, makes his case for why his track record on delivering results sets him apart from his three primary opponents.
In the interview, McAdams addresses his financial disclosures that show he has an ownership stake in AI data center companies, including one specializing in data center infrastructure, even as he campaigns in vocal opposition to the Stratos data center proposed for Box Elder County. He draws a distinction between that project, which he says uses too much water and bypassed the public process, and a separate Southern Utah project he consulted on that he says prioritizes renewable energy and a waterless operation.
He also talks about the state Democratic convention results, where he finished second to Liban Mohamed, and pushes back on the idea that the outcome signals the party base wants a more confrontational representative. McAdams argues primary voters care about outcomes over ideological purity tests.
On the Trump administration, McAdams doesn't mince words. He calls Trump "the most dangerous threat to American democracy in our lifetime" and says he's the only candidate in this race, or in the state, who has already paid a political price for standing up to him.
