New Utah congressional map opens door for primary challenge of House Republican leader

Rep. Blake Moore believes his five years in Congress have demonstrated a “promises made, promises kept kind of mentality” as he secured policy outcomes on tax cuts, retirement savings and Utah committee representation.

But a new court-ordered congressional district map in Utah has paved the way for a serious Republican primary challenge as Moore comes under fire from some state lawmakers and party activists for his support of a redistricting commission.

State Rep. Karianne Lisonbee has launched a campaign in Utah’s new 2nd District to pin the blame on Moore for the state’s map-drawing woes, which resulted in a new Democratic-majority Salt Lake seat to the dismay of GOP legislators who fought to prevent one.

Ahead of the nominating convention on April 25, Lisonbee is courting delegates with these criticisms and her reputation as culture warrior, while Moore touts his direct participation in some of President Donald Trump’s biggest legislative wins and his endorsement by the president.

Since announcing her candidacy last month after the end of the 2026 legislative session, Lisonbee has already raised $150,000 as she focuses on qualifying for the primary ballot through Utah’s unique party caucus convention system.

Meanwhile, Moore has already qualified for the primary by submitting 7,000 signatures, and counts on $2.4 million in cash on hand, after a $500,000 first quarter haul, to reach all GOP voters in his slightly shifted northern Utah district.

Beyond debates over redistricting, Moore and Lisonbee also have different messages about the way Utah representatives should lead in Washington, D.C., on budget reform, military investments and relationships with top national leaders.

Is leadership a lift or a liability?

The way Moore sees it, a higher profile role as one of 435 House members gives northern Utah greater representation.

“I’ve got a strong track record getting into leadership positions that we’ve really never seen before in Utah,” Moore told the Deseret News. “I put myself in positions to have an outsized voice for Utah.”

Since entering office in 2021, Moore has secured the trust of GOP power players, getting elected to the top tax policy committee in 2023, and becoming the vice chair of the Republican conference overseeing member messaging.

As the fifth-ranking House Republican, Moore has had unique influence to shape legislation like the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, and to grant positions to other Utah members, like getting Rep. Celeste Maloy a prized appropriations spot.

But Lisonbee believes that in seeking a leadership position, Moore has sometimes failed to take bold stands.

“Leadership means very little when it’s focused on the wrong priorities,” Lisonbee told the Deseret News.

There have been multiple occasions when Moore has acted the part of team player to get leadership priorities across the finish line. There are cases when independence on tough issues matters more than influence, according to Lisonbee.

Lisonbee believes she can do both: She spearheaded Utah’s abortion restriction law, which is held up in the courts, and sponsored bills cracking down on immigration and election security all while serving as the state House majority whip.

Their different leadership experience is reflected in the battle over endorsements between Moore and Lisonbee.

Moore tallies endorsements from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, and Trump, who endorsed Moore in November before a judge chose the new congressional map.

Moore also has the support of Utah Senate President Stuart Adams. But the state Legislature is split, with House majority leadership and more than 30 other state lawmakers endorsing Lisonbee as a show of disapproval over Utah redistricting.

The problem of Prop 4

Republicans at Utah’s Capitol have been engaged in a war over the state’s once-in-a-decade redistricting process since voters narrowly approved Proposition 4 in 2018 to establish guidelines and a commission to recommend maps.

Before running for elected office, Moore served as one of the original Republican co-chairs of Better Boundaries in 2017, and as one of the original signatories on the application to gather signatures to put Proposition 4 on the ballot.

Prop 4 created a private right of action, which Moore supported, allowing Utahns to sue the state if they thought the Legislature had divided the state in a way that disproportionately benefitted one party or candidate.

In 2022, activist groups sued lawmakers for replacing Prop 4 with a compromise alternative and approving a map that split Salt Lake County four ways. Last November, a judge sided with the plaintiffs, and selected a map they had submitted.

This reduced the number of solid Republican House seats in Utah from four to three, pushing Rep. Burgess Owens to retire, changing Maloy’s and Rep. Mike Kennedy’s districts and creating a Democrat seat covering most of Salt Lake County.

Lisonbee has so far focused heavily on making Moore the face of this Democratic victory, despite his public opposition to the court rulings and his call for Better Boundaries to stop its campaign to undo a GOP campaign to repeal Prop 4.

“I don’t regret taking a principled position,” Moore said. “I think every state should reckon with this.”

Moore still believes there needs to be a process to prevent partisan gerrymandering. But he also intends to be “the most credible voice” on a future amendment to clarify that initiatives cannot override lawmakers’ policy authority.

Budgets, bases and brands

Moore would rather take a victory lap over Trump’s first year back in office than respond to barbs from Lisonbee.

Moore took a leading role in making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent and partially spearheaded drafts for the newly created “Trump Accounts” — a government-funded savings account for kids — earning Moore a shoutout from Trump.

From his first campaign, Moore has run on reducing the national debt. He supported creating a bipartisan debt commission to find solutions and forcing Congress to require an annual vote on the biggest mandatory spending programs.

But Lisonbee said this approach, when paired with support for piecemeal budget packages every year, is not enough.

“We are on a collision course with reality,” Lisonbee said. “I will oppose the status quo omnibus bills and continuing resolutions that do little if nothing to chart a better course toward balanced budgets and more responsible spending.”

Lisonbee’s other line of attack focuses on Moore giving up his position on the Armed Services Committee to serve in more prominent roles. This does a disservice to one of the top employers in the district, according to Lisonbee.

Davis County GOP chair Don Guymon agreed Hill Air Force Base is a priority for 2nd District voters. He has heard delegates argue both sides on whether Moore’s leadership position draws attention to, or distracts from the base.

“That’s something delegates, and ultimately primary voters, will have to decide: Has that leadership position for Blake Moore delivered for Davis County residents,” Guymon told the Deseret News.

In 2024, Moore lost by 10 percentage points at convention against a political newcomer. He later won by more than 40 points in the primary.

Lisonbee’s criticisms of his House GOP role is just “grabbing at straws,” according to Moore.

Hill Air Force Base received $250 million for construction in 2025, Moore pointed out. His role, he said, has allowed him to pass more pieces of legislation than anyone else who entered Congress in 2021, and to do what he came to Congress to do.

“And I want to keep working on it,” Moore said.

Who else is running in CD2?

The 2nd District covers much of Moore’s old 1st District boundaries, including all of northern Utah. The new map now includes more of Davis County, but no longer includes Morgan and Summit counties.

Here’s who else is running in the district, which favors Republicans by nearly 40 percentage points, according to Inside Elections:

Republicans

• Colton Hatch — National Guard service member, works for the state pension system

Democrats

• Peter Crosby — Works in higher education
• Tyler Farnsworth — Mental health nurse practitioner
• Jarom Gillins — Army veteran and infrastructure maintenance
• Ian Parrish — Works in the auto finance industry

Libertarian

• Daniel Cottam — Bariatric surgeon

Independent American

• Carlton Bowen — Former American Fork city councilman, candidate in multiple elections
• Neil Hansen — Resident of Bountiful