2023 Utah's 2nd congressional district special election

For broader coverage of this topic, see Utah's 2nd congressional district.
2023 Utah's 2nd congressional district special election
← 2022 November 21, 2023 2024 →
Utah's 2nd congressional district
 
Nominee Celeste Maloy Kathleen Riebe
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 89,866 52,949
Percentage 57.1% 33.6%
County results
Maloy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Riebe:      60-70%
U.S. Representative before election

Chris Stewart
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Celeste Maloy
Republican

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The 2023 Utah's 2nd congressional district special election was held on November 21, 2023, to choose a new member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat became vacant following Republican representative Chris Stewart's resignation on September 15, 2023, due to his wife's ongoing health issues.[1]

On June 7, 2023, Utah governor Spencer Cox declared that the special election would be held on November 21, 2023, with the primary being held on September 5, 2023.[2] This was the first congressional special election in Utah since the 2017 election in the 3rd district following the resignation of Jason Chaffetz, and only the second since 1930.[3]

Celeste Maloy, Stewart's legal counsel, won the Republican convention. Her victory was considered an upset, as former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes led every round of voting except for the final.[4] Two other candidates, former Republican National Committee member Bruce Hough and former state representative Becky Edwards, qualified for the Republican primary via petition.[5] Some Republicans filed a lawsuit to remove Maloy from the ballot after it was revealed that her Utah voter registration was inactive, as she had moved to Virginia while working for Stewart; however, the lawsuit was rejected.[6]

Democrats nominated state senator Kathleen Riebe.[7] The 2nd district is considered a safe Republican seat, with a Cook PVI of R+11. Stewart was re-elected with 59.7% of the vote in 2022.[8] Donald Trump won the district with 56.7% of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.[9]

Republican primary

Candidates

Eleven candidates competed at the Republican convention on June 24. Celeste Maloy won, guaranteeing her a spot on the primary ballot.[10] Two candidates who lost at the convention, Becky Edwards and Bruce Hough, also qualified for the ballot by collecting signatures.[5]

Edwards's candidacy attracted attention due to her controversial stances; she voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, disagreed with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, supported the second impeachment of Donald Trump, and challenged U.S. Senator Mike Lee in his 2022 primary.[11]

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Lost at convention

Withdrew during convention

  • Quin Denning, construction contractor[12]
  • Bill Hoster, mayor of Leeds (endorsed Hughes)[13]
  • Scott Reber, realtor and former congressional staffer (endorsed Maloy)[13]

Withdrew before convention

  • Tyrone Jensen, political podcaster, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2022, and candidate for this district in 2020[13]

Disqualified

Declined

Endorsements

Greg Hughes (lost at convention)

Local officials

  • Bill Hoster, mayor of Leeds and candidate for this seat in 2023[18]
Celeste Maloy

U.S. Cabinet officials

U.S. representatives

Individuals

  • Jordan Hess, former vice chair of the Utah Republican Party and candidate for this seat in 2023 (Eliminated at convention)[22]
  • Scott Reber, realtor, former congressional staffer, and candidate for this seat in 2023 (Eliminated at convention)[23]
Bruce Hough

Individuals

  • Scott Hatfield, former candidate for this seat (Eliminated at convention)[24]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of August 16, 2023
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Becky Edwards (R) $678,975 [a] $450,629 $228,346
Bruce Hough (R) $538,700 [b] $453,801 $84,899
Celeste Maloy (R) $307,308 $217,563 $89,745
Source: Federal Election Commission[25]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[c] 		Margin
of error 		Becky
Edwards 		Bruce
Hough 		Celeste
Maloy 		Undecided
Dan Jones & Associates[26] August 7–14, 2023 471 (RV) ± 4.51% 32% 11% 9% 47%

Pre-convention debate

Pre-convention debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Kathleen Anderson Quin Denning Becky Edwards Henry Eyring Scott Hatfield Jordan Hess Bill Hoster Bruce Hough Greg Hughes Celeste Maloy Scott Reber
1 Jun. 20, 2023 KTVX Rob Axson
Glen Mills 		YouTube (part 1)
YouTube (part 2) 		P P P P P P P P P P P

Convention results

Republican convention results[27]
Candidate First ballot Second ballot Third ballot Fourth ballot Fifth ballot
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Celeste Maloy 178 24.1% 199 27.0% 210 28.6% 244 33.2% 380 52.1%
Greg Hughes 211 28.5% 240 32.6% 259 35.2% 300 40.9% 349 47.9%
Jordan Hess 149 20.1% 163 22.1% 169 23.0% 155 21.1% Eliminated
Henry Eyring 60 8.1% 54 7.3% 46 6.3% 35 4.8% Eliminated
Bill Hoster 47 6.4% 33 4.5% 30 4.1% Withdrawn
Becky Edwards 37 5.0% 27 3.7% 21 2.9% Eliminated
Kathleen Anderson 14 1.9% 13 1.8% Eliminated
Bruce Hough 14 1.9% 8 1.1% Eliminated
Quin Denning 13 1.8% Withdrawn
Scott Reber 13 1.8% Withdrawn
Scott Hatfield 4 0.5% Eliminated

Post-convention debate

Post-convention debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Becky Edwards Bruce Hough Celeste Maloy
1 Aug. 15, 2023 KSL-TV YouTube A P P

Primary results

Results by county:
Maloy
  •   Maloy—70–80%
  •   Maloy—50–60%
  •   Maloy—40–50%
Edwards
  •   Edwards—50–60%
  •   Edwards—40–50%
Hough
  •   Hough—30–40%
Tie
  •   Three-way tie—30–40%
Republican primary results[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Celeste Maloy 36,288 38.8
Republican Becky Edwards 30,560 32.7
Republican Bruce Hough 26,562 28.4
Total votes 93,410 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Lost in convention

  • Guy Warner, tech executive[12]
  • Archie Williams, heavy equipment operator and perennial candidate[12]

Declined

Convention results

Democratic convention results[32]
Candidate First ballot
Votes %
Kathleen Riebe 243 85.56%
Guy Warner 36 12.67%
Archie Williams III 5 1.76%

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of August 16, 2023
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Kathleen Riebe (D) $94,451 $48,548 $45,902
Source: Federal Election Commission[25]

Third-party and independent candidates

United Utah Party

Nominee

Lost convention
  • Stone Fonua, tax preparer and perennial candidate[33]
Convention results
United Utah convention results
Candidate First ballot
January Walker 81%
Stone Fonua 19%

Libertarian Party

Nominee

  • Bradley Garth Green, plumbing supply store owner and son of Cedar City mayor Garth Green[33][34]

Constitution Party

Nominee

  • Cassie Easley, vice chair of the Utah Constitution Party and nominee for this district in 2022[12]

Independents

Declared

General election

Debate

2023 Utah's 2nd congressional district special election debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Celeste Maloy Kathleen Riebe
1[35] Oct. 26, 2023 KUED
Utah Debate Commission 		Mary Weaver YouTube P P

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[36] Safe R July 18, 2023
Inside Elections[37] Solid R June 7, 2023
DDHQ[38] Safe R September 4, 2023

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[c] 		Margin
of error 		Celeste
Malloy (R) 		Kathleen
Riebe (D) 		Brad
Green (L) 		Other Undecided
Lighthouse Research[39] September 26 – October 6, 2023 528 (RV) ± 4.3% 43% 34% 6% 8%[d] 9%

Results

2023 Utah's 2nd congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Celeste Maloy 89,866 57.07 −2.64
Democratic Kathleen Riebe 52,949 33.62 −0.39
Libertarian Bradley Green 4,528 2.88 N/A
Constitution Cassie Easley 3,678 2.34 −0.62
United Utah January Walker 2,856 1.81 −1.51
Independent Perry Myers 2,276 1.45 N/A
Independent Joseph Buchman 1,281 0.81 N/A
Write-in 39 0.02 N/A
Total votes 157,473 100.00
Republican hold
By county
County Celeste Maloy
Republican 		Kathleen Riebe
Democratic 		Bradley Green
Libertarian 		Cassie Easley
Constitution 		January Walker
United Utah 		Perry Myers
Independent 		Joseph Buchman
Independent 		Margin Total votes
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Beaver 1,428 85.56% 147 8.81% 31 1.86% 26 1.56% 9 0.54% 17 1.02% 10 0.60% 1,281 76.80% 1,668
Davis 17,221 61.10% 8,090 28.70% 512 1.82% 507 1.80% 602 2.14% 287 1.02% 240 0.85% 9,131 33.25% 27,459
Garfield 1,189 77.71% 244 15.95% 24 1.57% 27 1.76% 9 0.59% 25 1.63% 8 0.52% 945 61.93% 1,526
Iron 9,308 73.29% 1,760 13.86% 801 6.31% 410 3.23% 181 1.43% 95 0.75% 95 0.75% 7,548 59.67% 12,650
Juab 104 58.43% 47 26.40% 5 2.81% 9 5.06% 1 0.56% 10 5.62% 1 0.56% 57 32.20% 177
Kane 1,475 68.99% 500 23.39% 41 1.92% 42 1.96% 9 0.42% 58 2.71% 9 0.42% 975 45.69% 2,134
Millard 2,939 83.95% 277 7.91% 81 2.31% 92 2.63% 31 0.89% 54 1.54% 14 0.40% 2,662 76.32% 3,488
Piute 553 89.92% 38 6.18% 5 0.81% 11 1.79% 3 0.49% 4 0.65% 1 0.16% 515 83.74% 615
Salt Lake 12,239 26.86% 30,222 66.33% 880 1.93% 467 1.03% 1,060 2.33% 296 0.65% 394 0.86% −17,983 −39.47% 45,558
Sevier 4,061 83.96% 424 8.77% 98 2.03% 123 2.54% 44 0.91% 38 0.79% 34 0.70% 3,637 75.43% 4,822
Tooele 6,844 59.14% 2,628 22.71% 418 3.61% 356 3.08% 365 3.15% 737 6.37% 189 1.63% 4,216 36.54% 11,537
Washington 31,866 70.98% 8,369 18.64% 1,620 3.61% 1,594 3.55% 537 1.20% 629 1.40% 281 0.63% 23,497 52.34% 44,896
Wayne 639 70.45% 203 22.38% 12 1.32% 14 1.54% 5 0.55% 26 2.87% 5 0.55% 436 48.23% 904
Total 89,866 57.07% 52,949 33.62% 4,528 2.88% 3,678 2.34% 2,856 1.81% 2,276 1.45% 1,281 0.81% 36,917 23.45% 157,434

See also

Notes

  1. ^ $300,000 of this total was self-funded by Edwards
  2. ^ $334,236 of this total was self-funded by Hough
  3. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  4. ^ Joe Buchanan (Ind.) and January Walker (UU) with <3%, and Cassie Easley (C) and Perry Myers (Ind.) with <2%

References

  1. ^ Talbot, Haley; Wright, David; Zanona, Melanie (May 31, 2023). "Utah Republican Chris Stewart to resign from Congress". CNN. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Mentz, Sam (June 7, 2023). "Utah to hold election for retiring congressman's seat in November". ABC News. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Schott, Bryan (May 30, 2023). "What happens to U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart's seat after he resigns from Congress?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  4. ^ Schott, Bryan (June 24, 2023). "Celeste Maloy wins Utah Republicans' nomination for special congressional election". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e Schott, Brian (July 12, 2023). "Three Republicans have qualified for Utah's special GOP primary election to replace Rep. Chris Stewart". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Jennings, Aubree (July 31, 2023). "Lawsuit against Utah District 2 Celeste Maloy denied". ABC 4. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Schott, Bryan (June 28, 2023). "Kathleen Riebe nominated by Utah Democrats for special congressional election". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  8. ^ Schott, Bryan (May 30, 2023). "Utah's Rep. Chris Stewart plans to step down from the U.S. House, sources say". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts". Daily Kos. September 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "SPECIAL ELECTION CONVENTION FOR UTAH'S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT". Salt Lake County Republican Party. June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Metzger, Bryan (September 4, 2023). "A GOP former state lawmaker who voted for Biden in 2020, was against overturning Roe v. Wade, and supported impeaching Trump could soon be headed to Congress". Business Insider. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Green, Bradley (June 9, 2023). "Who's in 2nd District race? Field is set for campaign to replace Rep. Chris Stewart". KSL News. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Schott, Bryan (June 8, 2023). "Here's who could replace Rep. Stewart in Congress". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Bates, Suzanne (June 8, 2023). "Becky Edwards, Greg Hughes officially enter the race for Chris Stewart's House seat". Deseret News. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pignanelli, Frank; Webb, LaVarr (June 1, 2023). "Opinion: Who will replace Rep. Chris Stewart in Congress?". Deseret News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Singer, Jeff (June 9, 2023). "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 6/9". Daily Kos. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Utah political experts mull over who will vie for Rep. Stewart's seat". June 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bill Hoster throws his support to Greg Hughes and withdraws #utpol".
  19. ^ Bernhardt, David (August 24, 2023). "Opinion: I care about our public lands. I endorse Celeste Maloy". Deseret News.
  20. ^ Tomco, Brigham (June 24, 2023). "Celeste Maloy wins Utah Republican convention, advances in effort to replace Rep. Chris Stewart". Deseret News. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Jacobson, Matthew (June 20, 2023). "Ahead of debate in special election, Rep. Chris Stewart endorses staffer to fill position". KUTV. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "Jordan Hess endorses Celeste Maloy in the final round against Greg Hughes. That could spell doom for Hughes in the final round #utpol".
  23. ^ "Scott Reber just threw his support behind Celeste Maloy. Not a good development for Hughes #utpol".
  24. ^ https://twitter.com/ScottforUtah/status/1698336169292185771
  25. ^ a b "2024 Election United States House - Utah 2nd". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Dan Jones & Associates
  27. ^ "2023 CD2 Special Election Convention Results". The Utah Republican Party.
  28. ^ "US Congressional District 2".
  29. ^ Kael Weston [@KaelWeston] (June 13, 2023). "I have decided not to seek the Utah Democratic Party nomination for the upcoming special election in Utah's 2nd Congressional District" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Democratic representative Nicholas Mitchell seeks 2nd Congressional District chair in House". October 14, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  31. ^ "Here's who could replace Rep. Chris Stewart in Congress". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  32. ^ Anderson, Ben (June 29, 2023). "Sen. Kathleen Riebe Wins Democratic Nomination for Congressional District 2". Utah Democrats. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  33. ^ a b c d "2023 Candidate Filings".
  34. ^ Short, Barry; Lammi, Phil. "Utah Libertarian Party (UTLP) Nominates Mr. Bradley Garth Green for Utah's Congressional District-2" (PDF). Utah Libertarian Party. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  35. ^ Poonia, Gitanjali (October 12, 2023). "Utah 2nd District debate candidates revealed as commission releases new poll". Deseret News. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "While Trump Dominates the National Stage, He Hardly Registers in UT-02 Special". The Cook Political43 Report. July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  37. ^ "Utah 2 Special: Beehive State Buzz". The Rothenberg Political Report. June 7, 2023. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023. Politically, the district is solidly Republican. It would have voted for Donald Trump by 17 points, 56-39 percent, in 2020, and by a similar margin for Trump in 2016: 47-31 percent, with the rest going to independent candidate Evan McMullin.
  38. ^ "Special Election Results: Utah Congressional District 2". Decision Desk HQ. September 4, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  39. ^ Lighthouse Research

Official campaign websites