Utah Rep. Blake Moore secured the endorsements of two top Republican leaders in the U.S. House on Monday, giving the three-term congressman a boost in his reelection campaign as he faces a primary challenge from a prominent state lawmaker.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced his endorsement alongside Rep. Jim Jordan, the founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, in a joint press release on Monday afternoon. Johnson lauded Moore as a “valued member in House Republican leadership” and an “America First Patriot” who has used his committee positions to advance key GOP agenda items.
“Blake has helped deliver working families tax cuts, a secure border, American energy dominance, and peace through strength, while also defending our troops, veterans, and principles that have made America the greatest nation on Earth,” Johnson said. “I am proud to ENDORSE Congressman Blake Moore in Utah’s 2nd District, and look forward to working with him to defend and grow our majority and CONTINUE our American comeback!”
Moore serves as the vice chair of the House GOP conference, the fifth-highest leadership position for the party in the lower chamber. He is the first Utahn to be elected to such a leadership position.
House Freedom Caucus founder endorses Moore
Jordan similarly praised Moore’s record since being elected in 2020, particularly in his work to advance President Donald Trump’s tax priorities in the Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer as well as his work to create the Trump Accounts.
“Blake Moore is a close friend and a proven fighter for conservative values,” Jordan said in a statement. “Together, we have worked tirelessly to rein in big government, root out fraud and waste, end DEI and the weaponization of the federal government, defend free speech, and advance President Trump’s agenda. Now, more than ever, we need leaders like Blake Moore in Congress.”
The endorsements come at a key time for Moore as he faces a challenge from state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, a well-known state legislator who has served in leadership positions within the Utah House of Representatives.
Lisonbee endorsed by Utah House speaker
Lisonbee launched her bid earlier this month, criticizing Moore for his previous involvement with Better Boundaries to create an independent redistricting commission in Utah. Moore was one of the original signatories on the application to put Proposition 4 on the ballot, which was later used to overturn the state’s previous congressional map and establish a heavily Democratic district in Salt Lake County, alongside three heavily Republican districts.
“Blake Moore wasn’t naive to the ‘teeth’ of Prop 4 when he led the charge for the initiative in 2018, and now in 2026 he’s gifted a seat to the Democrats,” Lisonbee said in a post on X. “Northern Utah, I’m a stalwart conservative with a legislative track record that proves my backbone. I’m running to serve you and to represent the conservative values of our CD2 community.”
Lisonbee has gotten support from some local state delegates and even secured an endorsement from Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz.
Trump endorsed Moore
Moore, on the other hand, has the benefit of having Trump on his side after the president endorsed him in November in a Truth Social post. Trump also gave Moore a shoutout during his State of the Union speech in February.
Moore and Lisonbee will face off in the Republican primary for what is the state’s newly redrawn 2nd District that encompasses northern Utah and covers much of the same ground as Moore’s previous 1st District seat. However, critics such as Lisonbee say Moore should run in the new blue seat because of the Better Boundaries push to redraw the map.
This story has been updated.