Ex-state Sen. Kitchen enters Utah's 1st District House race

State of play: Kitchen is positioning himself as a progressive alternative to former Rep. Ben McAdams, another Democrat vying for the seat, who's known for his moderate approach.

• State Sen. Kathleen Riebe (D-Cottonwood Heights), an educator, was the first to announce her candidacy last week.

What they're saying: "We have a real choice in this race," Kitchen said in a statement. "We can send someone to Congress who plays it safe, or we can send someone who has spent his entire life fighting for justice, equality, and a better future for Utah families."

Catch up quick: Kitchen was elected to the Salt Lake City Council in 2015 and, later, served one term as state senator between 2019-2023.

• After running for reelection in the Senate, he was narrowly defeated in the 2022 Democratic primary by now-state Sen. Jen Plumb.
• The Biden administration appointed Kitchen in 2023 to serve as acting senior vice president and deputy director of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

What we're watching: Whether Kitchen can match McAdams' early fundraising momentum.

• McAdams' campaign said he raised more than $500,000 in 24 hours after launching his bid last week.