U.S. Reps. Maloy and Moore, conservative Mike Kennedy win Utah Congressional GOP primaries
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U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) in May. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
In two of Utah's three Congressional races, GOP primary voters were poised to continue their pattern of electing candidates who didn't prevail at the party's heavily-conservative convention.
State of play: Most of Utah's Congressional districts are reliably Republican; the primary typically decides the seats.
District 2
U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy held a narrow lead over Colby Jenkins, a former Green Beret with the U.S. Army who received an endorsement from Sen. Mike Lee.
- Maloy was up 52%-48% with 97% of precincts reporting, according to early results posted shortly after midnight Wednesday.
The big picture: Until late in the campaign, Jenkins appeared to have nailed down support from the GOP's right wing, winning most of the convention vote after Lee's endorsement.
Yes, but: Former President Trump endorsed Maloy last week, likely protecting her from the intra-party feud that has factionalized Republicans in other Utah races.
- Maloy also held endorsements from her three fellow Utah Republicans in the House and Gov. Spencer Cox, who has been attacked from the right in his own re-election campaign.
Friction point: Jenkins had accused Maloy of compromising too much with Democrats in passing a federal budget.
- In a debate earlier this month, he also refused to say whether he'd certify presidential election results if Biden wins; Maloy said she would.
The district covers most of western Utah, plus parts of Salt Lake and Davis counties.
District 3
State Sen. Mike Kennedy (R-Alpine) showed the GOP convention does sometimes pick a winner, defeating the four other candidates with 37% of the vote.
State of play: He secured the party's nomination in April; the four others reached the primary ballot by gathering signatures.
The intrigue: The defeat of state Auditor John Dougall reinforced that GOP never-Trumpers face an uphill primary battle — even in Utah, where Trump has gotten a relatively lukewarm reception for a Republican.
- Dougall campaigned as a moderate, decrying "MAGA antics."
- He was in 5th place, with 9% of the vote.
Catch up quick: The seat, which represents eastern Utah and parts of Salt Lake and Utah counties, opened when current Rep. John Curtis opted to run to replace Sen. Mitt Romney who's retiring.
District 1
U.S. Rep. Blake Moore was up 72% to 28%, defeating challenger Paul Miller, a South Ogden electrician, per the AP.
Yes, but: Miller outperformed Moore in the GOP convention and in a debate accused him of "funding Biden's agenda."
Moore, a business management consultant, has served in Congress since 2021 and is vice chair of the House Republican Conference.
- District 1 covers most of northern Utah.
District 4
U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens was unchallenged in the primary, and will face three other candidates in November for the seat covering parts of Salt Lake and Utah counties and central Utah.
- District 4 is historically Utah's most competitive Congressional district, but Owens won with more than 61% of the vote in 2022 after it was redrawn.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.