U.S. House · Utah's 1st District

Northern Utah, drawn under the congressional map used for the first time in 2026 after a court struck down the Legislature's 2021 map; includes Ogden and Davis County.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Ben McAdams, projected winner

Candidate	Votes	Share
Ben McAdams	174,492	70.1%
Riley Owen	65,190	26.2%
Jesse West	5,707	2.3%
Elias Montgomery	3,593	1.4%
Babak Darvish (write-in)	76	0%

About 96% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

This is an open seat. A Third District Court judge struck down Utah's 2021 congressional map in League of Women Voters v. Utah State Legislature and adopted a new map for 2026 that added a Democratic-leaning district. Under the new lines, incumbent Blake Moore (previously representing the old 1st District) is running in the new 2nd District, and incumbent Burgess Owens (previously representing the old 4th District, which included much of this area) is not seeking re-election, leaving this seat open. No candidate currently holds this specific redrawn district.[1]
Ben McAdams, a former U.S. Representative (Utah's 4th District, 2019-2021) and former Salt Lake County Mayor, won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 51.9% of the vote (29,737 of 57,295 votes, certified results per Ballotpedia) over Nate Blouin, Liban Mohamed and Michael Farrell. Riley Owen advanced from the Republican convention (the Republican primary was canceled after only one candidate qualified).[1][2]

On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates

Ben McAdamsDPROJECTED WINNERFormer U.S. Representative, Utah's 4th District (2019-2021)Full profile →Riley OwenRFull profile →Jesse WestLIBFull profile →Elias MontgomeryINDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

Ben McAdams
Supports[3]
Says decisions about abortion should be made by a woman, her doctor and the people she trusts, not politicians, and supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
—
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Criminalizing abortion does not work to eradicate the practice.”
On his campaign website (Abortion plank)

Stricter gun laws

Ben McAdams
Recorded votes[21]
Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales.
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
—
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Shift law enforcement focus away from penalizing lawful gun owners and redirect resources to aggressively tracking and prosecuting violent felons, straw-purchasers, and criminal syndicates running black-market weapon networks.”
On his campaign website (Gun Rights plank)

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Ben McAdams
Recorded votes[23]
Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04).
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
Opposes[11]
Calls for abolishing ICE, reducing DHS and cutting spending on detention, walls and deportation.
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Redirect enforcement assets entirely to high-impact tracking models targeting violent transnational syndicates and cartels.”
On his campaign website (Immigration Enforcement plank)

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Ben McAdams
Supports[3]
Says he will work to increase housing supply and cut red tape that drives up housing costs.
Riley Owen
Supports[10]
Calls for supply-side housing policy, including zoning reform that allows multi-family homes and accessory dwelling units.
Jesse West
Supports[11]
Lists repealing zoning laws that restrict housing supply among his economic proposals.
Elias Montgomery
Supports[5][13]
Supports streamlining approval of "missing-middle" housing such as duplexes and townhomes while limiting large-scale corporate purchases of single-family homes.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

Ben McAdams
—
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
In their own words[11]
“Simplify the tax code and lower rates across the board”
On his campaign platform page
Elias Montgomery
—

Expand public health coverage

Ben McAdams
—
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
In their own words[11]
“The fix isn't more government. It's less.”
On his campaign platform page
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Pass a universal catastrophic healthcare floor to shield every family from medical bankruptcy.”
On his campaign website (Healthcare plank)

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

Ben McAdams
Supports[3]
Calls climate change "an existential threat" and supports expanding clean energy and modernizing the electrical grid.
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
In their own words[11]
“End taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel extraction on public lands”
On his campaign platform page
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Empower communities to develop advanced small-scale nuclear and solar setups without waiting through multi-year federal administrative freezes.”
On his campaign website (Climate Policy plank)

Increase police funding and staffing

Ben McAdams
—
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
—
Elias Montgomery
In their own words[13]
“Provide robust community funding for advanced law enforcement training, mental health resources, and competitive retention pay.”
On his campaign website (Police Reform plank)

Raise the minimum wage

Ben McAdams
Recorded votes[22]
Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
—
Elias Montgomery
—

Continue U.S. military aid to Israel

Ben McAdams
—
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
In their own words[12]
“I would work to cut funding to Israel”
In the Salt Lake Tribune candidate questionnaire, Oct. 12, 2026
Elias Montgomery
—

Broad tariffs on imported goods

Ben McAdams
Opposes[3]
Says he opposes tariffs he attributes to the Trump administration, arguing they raise grocery and everyday costs for Utah families.
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
—
Elias Montgomery
—

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

Ben McAdams
—
Riley Owen
—
Jesse West
Supports[11]
Lists requiring congressional authorization for any new military engagement among his specific proposals.
Elias Montgomery
—

ISSUE	Ben McAdams D	Riley Owen R	Jesse West LIB	Elias Montgomery IND
Protect legal access to abortion	Supports[3] Says decisions about abortion should be made by a woman, her doctor and the people she trusts, not politicians, and supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.	—	—	In their own words[13] “Criminalizing abortion does not work to eradicate the practice.” On his campaign website (Abortion plank)
Stricter gun laws	Recorded votes[21] Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales.	—	—	In their own words[13] “Shift law enforcement focus away from penalizing lawful gun owners and redirect resources to aggressively tracking and prosecuting violent felons, straw-purchasers, and criminal syndicates running black-market weapon networks.” On his campaign website (Gun Rights plank)
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	Recorded votes[23] Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04).	—	Opposes[11] Calls for abolishing ICE, reducing DHS and cutting spending on detention, walls and deportation.	In their own words[13] “Redirect enforcement assets entirely to high-impact tracking models targeting violent transnational syndicates and cartels.” On his campaign website (Immigration Enforcement plank)
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	Supports[3] Says he will work to increase housing supply and cut red tape that drives up housing costs.	Supports[10] Calls for supply-side housing policy, including zoning reform that allows multi-family homes and accessory dwelling units.	Supports[11] Lists repealing zoning laws that restrict housing supply among his economic proposals.	Supports[5][13] Supports streamlining approval of "missing-middle" housing such as duplexes and townhomes while limiting large-scale corporate purchases of single-family homes.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	—	—	In their own words[11] “Simplify the tax code and lower rates across the board” On his campaign platform page	—
Expand public health coverage	—	—	In their own words[11] “The fix isn't more government. It's less.” On his campaign platform page	In their own words[13] “Pass a universal catastrophic healthcare floor to shield every family from medical bankruptcy.” On his campaign website (Healthcare plank)
Faster transition away from fossil fuels	Supports[3] Calls climate change "an existential threat" and supports expanding clean energy and modernizing the electrical grid.	—	In their own words[11] “End taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel extraction on public lands” On his campaign platform page	In their own words[13] “Empower communities to develop advanced small-scale nuclear and solar setups without waiting through multi-year federal administrative freezes.” On his campaign website (Climate Policy plank)
Increase police funding and staffing	—	—	—	In their own words[13] “Provide robust community funding for advanced law enforcement training, mental health resources, and competitive retention pay.” On his campaign website (Police Reform plank)
Raise the minimum wage	Recorded votes[22] Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).	—	—	—
Continue U.S. military aid to Israel	—	—	In their own words[12] “I would work to cut funding to Israel” In the Salt Lake Tribune candidate questionnaire, Oct. 12, 2026	—
Broad tariffs on imported goods	Opposes[3] Says he opposes tariffs he attributes to the Trump administration, arguing they raise grocery and everyday costs for Utah families.	—	—	—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad	—	—	Supports[11] Lists requiring congressional authorization for any new military engagement among his specific proposals.	—

Research notes & limits

Utah's congressional map was redrawn by court order for 2026; this seat has no incumbent under the new lines. Riley Owen and Jesse West have limited public policy statements beyond Ballotpedia, and Jesse West has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, so his biography rests on a brief Ballotpedia profile. Write-in candidate Bobby Darvish was omitted for lack of any documented public record. Sources differ on the year Ben McAdams entered the Utah State Senate, so the start year is omitted.

Sources · 32

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

1.United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
2.Ben McAdams (Utah) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
3.Ben McAdams campaign website, quoted verbatim (April 23, 2026) · Ben McAdams campaign website, via Ballotpedia · 2026-04-23 Candidate's own words
4.Riley Owen — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-04-08 Candidate's own words
5.Elias Montgomery — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
6.Roll Call 695 | H.Res.755, Article I (Abuse of Power) — Agreeing to the Resolution · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2019-12-18 Official record
7.Roll Call 696 | H.Res.755, Article II (Obstruction of Congress) — Agreeing to the Resolution · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2019-12-18 Official record
8.Roll Call 217 | H.R.5, Equality Act — On Passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2019-05-17 Official record
9.Roll Call 155 | Great American Outdoors Act (S.3422) — On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · 2020-07-22 Official record
10.Riley Owen campaign website, quoted verbatim (April 9, 2026) · Riley Owen campaign website, via Ballotpedia · 2026-04-09 Candidate's own words
11.Jesse West for Congress: platform (full policy positions) · Jesse West campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
12.Ben McAdams faces Riley Owen and three others in 2026 Utah 1st Congressional District race (candidate questionnaire) · The Salt Lake Tribune · 2026-10-12 News report
13.Elias Montgomery for Congress: policy agenda · Elias Montgomery campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
14.Ben McAdams (Utah) · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
15.Ben McAdams campaign website, quoted verbatim (April 23, 2026) · Ben McAdams campaign website, via Ballotpedia · 2026-04-23 Candidate's own words
16.Ben McAdams · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
17.Meet Ben · Ben McAdams for Utah Candidate's own words
18.Riley Owen is the Utah GOP's man in the new 1st district. Can he win? · KUER · 2026-04-28 News report
19.Ben McAdams (D) defeated Nate Blouin (D), Michael Farrell (D), and Liban Mohamed (D) in the Democratic primary for Utah's 1st Congressional District · Ballotpedia News · 2026-06-24 Reference
20.Utah's 1st District election results 2026 · NBC News News report
21.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
22.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
23.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
24.Riley Owen — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-04-08 Candidate's own words
25.Riley Owen is the Utah GOP's man in the new 1st district. Can he win? · KUER · 2026-04-28 News report
26.Meet the 2 new congressional candidates for Utah · KSL.com News report
27.U.S. House · Utah's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
28.Jesse West · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
29.Ben McAdams faces Riley Owen and three others in 2026 Utah 1st Congressional District race · The Salt Lake Tribune · 2026-10-12 News report
30.U.S. House · Utah's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
31.Elias Montgomery — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
32.U.S. House · Utah's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report