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U.S. House · Utah's 1st District

Jesse West

CandidateLIB

Race
U.S. House · Utah's 1st District
Result
Ben McAdams, projected winner
Opponents
Ben McAdams (D); Riley Owen (R); Elias Montgomery (IND)
Research
Basic

Party linenone

No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.

Said vs. did3 statements · 0 votes

Require Congressional authorization for any new military engagement

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

Compare statements with votes ›

On the ballotU.S. House · 1

2026-11-03

Ben McAdams Dchallenger
Riley Owen Rchallenger
Jesse West LIBchallenger
Elias Montgomery INDchallenger

Advanced from the April 18, 2026 Libertarian Party convention

Said vs. did

Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroadSupports
Require Congressional authorization for any new military engagement

Lists requiring congressional authorization for any new military engagement among his specific proposals.[3]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes
ICE must go and the DHS needs to be reduced significantly.

Calls for abolishing ICE, reducing DHS and cutting spending on detention, walls and deportation.[3]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housingSupports
Repeal zoning laws that restrict home businesses and housing supply

Lists repealing zoning laws that restrict housing supply among his economic proposals.[3]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Biography

Jesse West, a Libertarian Party attorney who has worked at several law firms and has also owned a hemp farm, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Utah's open 1st Congressional District to Ben McAdams. He advanced from the Libertarian convention on April 18, 2026; he has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.[1][2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Jesse West graduated from Cleveland High School in 2013, then earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2017 and a law degree from Lincoln Memorial University in 2021.[1] He has worked as an attorney, including as an associate attorney at Jess Couser Family Law, Cowdin and Gatewood, and Long Okura, P.C., and has also worked as an executive coordinator, law clerk and contract administrator.[1] West has owned Husky Hemp Farm and has been affiliated with the Utah Libertarian Party, the Tennessee Growers Coalition and the Mushroom Society of Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune describes him as chair of the Salt Lake City Libertarian Party.[1][4] He advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for the 1st District on April 18, 2026.[1] He received 2.3% of the vote to Ben McAdams's 70.1%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[2]

In their own words

Priorities

  • Foreign policy: says troops should be brought home and defense should mean defending rather than nation-building.[3]
  • Criminal justice: proposes abolishing the federal death penalty.[3]
  • Immigration: proposes clear pathways to citizenship and integration.[3]

Statements, quoted without a stance

  • Expand public health coverage
    “The fix isn't more government. It's less.”[3]

    On his campaign platform page

  • Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
    “Simplify the tax code and lower rates across the board”[3]

    On his campaign platform page

  • Faster transition away from fossil fuels
    “End taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel extraction on public lands”[3]

    On his campaign platform page

  • Continue U.S. military aid to Israel
    “I would work to cut funding to Israel”[5]

    In the Salt Lake Tribune candidate questionnaire, Oct. 12, 2026

Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.

Profile: /people/jesse-west

Compare all 4 candidates side by side ›

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.Jesse West · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.U.S. House · Utah's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  3. 3.Jesse West for Congress: platform (full policy positions) · Jesse West campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Ben McAdams faces Riley Owen and three others in 2026 Utah 1st Congressional District race · The Salt Lake Tribune · 2026-10-12 News report
  5. 5.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