Riley Owen

Riley Owen is the Republican nominee for Utah's open 1st Congressional District. A Salt Lake City resident in his twenties, he is a U.S. Navy Reserve intelligence officer and says he was a White House political appointee on trade and manufacturing policy before working in the shipbuilding, critical minerals and drone industries. He won the nomination at the April 2026 Republican convention and says he is running to defend children and families and to stop career politicians.[1][2][3]

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 is focusing on affordability, business tax credits for paid maternity leave, and housing.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.