Riley Owen

Riley Owen says he comes from six generations of Utahns. He lives in Salt Lake City and was 27 when he announced his campaign, according to KSL.[1][3] He studied international relations at Princeton University, graduating with High Honors, and was an Eisenhower Scholar at Oxford University, where he earned a Master of Public Policy with Merit.[1] Owen served as a White House political appointee working on trade and manufacturing policy; KUER describes him as a former Trump White House staffer. After government service he worked in industry in shipbuilding, critical minerals and drones, and Ballotpedia also lists CEO among his career experience.[1][2] He serves as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.[1][2]

Owen won the Republican nomination outright with 71.2% of the delegate vote at the April 25, 2026 Utah Republican convention, so no Republican primary was held.[2][3] He told KUER he was focusing on affordability, business tax credits for paid maternity leave, and housing.[2] During the campaign, he said he was running to defend children and families and to stop career politicians.[1][2][3] He received 26.2% of the vote to Ben McAdams's 70.1%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]