- PACs funded by leading AI firms spent more than $2 million to support Utah congressional candidates.
- The 1st Congressional District will weigh in on a divide in the Democratic Party between pragmatic and progressive.
- Tuesday's primary race has forced candidates to take positions on Utah priorities of AI policy and AI data centers.
Utah — in its trademark peculiar way — ended up at the center of nationwide debates over data centers, AI policies and redistricting during the raucous primary election races coming to a close on Tuesday.
A court-ordered map reshuffled Utah’s congressional districts, resulting in the retirement of Republican Rep. Burgess Owens and opening the door for the most competitive Democratic contest in decades.
Redrawn electoral boundaries meant GOP incumbents, like Rep. Blake Moore, and especially Rep. Celeste Maloy, were left with different constituencies, turning reelection bids into what might seem like open seats.
Meanwhile, primary opponents latched onto one of the most sensitive political flashpoints of the year: How artificial intelligence is reshaping community infrastructure and how AI firms are influencing politics.
It has been a lot to follow.
Here are the congressional races we’re watching on Tuesday — Rep. Mike Kennedy in the 4th District is running uncontested — and the top issues driving debate, turnout and, ultimately, the outcome.
1st Congressional District
The voters in Utah’s Democratic Salt Lake County seat find themselves in the middle of the party’s identity crisis.
Former Rep. Ben McAdams has received the support of the party establishment, raking in $2 million, as he touts a record of “coalition-building” and opposition to President Donald Trump during his first term in office.
The rest of the field has tried to draw a clear distinction between McAdams’ moderate reputation — despite his recent emphasis on liberal talking points — and their progressive-verging-on-socialist politics.
State Sen. Nate Blouin has billed himself as the only viable alternative to McAdams, with superior fundraising and endorsements from the likes of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and has called on his opponents to drop out.
But 27-year-old tech policy advocate Liban Mohamed and self-funded attorney Michael Farrell ignored him.
Beyond consensus issues of taxing the wealthy and funding universal programs, debate has centered on McAdams’ well-funded supporters, with the pro-AI innovation PAC Leading the Future spending more than $1 million on ads to boost him.
2nd Congressional District
With a new, more polarized map came a serious challenger for Moore, who typically coasts to a primary nomination.
The fifth-ranking House Republican has been lambasted by state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee for his longtime support for Utah’s independent redistricting commission, his residence outside of the district and his insider status on the Hill.
Despite Moore’s huge fundraising advantage of 13-to-1, the race has devolved into personal attacks.
After Lisonbee suggested Moore made “millions insider trading” in office, he accused her of “outright defamation.” Lisonbee’s campaign returned the accusation when Moore-friendly PACs tied Lisonbee to the Box Elder data center.
Like Maloy, Moore counts on a fresh endorsement from Trump. He touts a role in creating the Trump Accounts, making Trump tax cuts permanent and helping Maloy secure Trump’s promised funding for the Great Salt Lake.
Meanwhile, Lisonbee has promised to continue her aggressive approach on immigration, spending and election reform while in Congress, knocking on more than 12,000 northern Utah doors to make her case to voters.
3rd Congressional District
The battle over AI regulation also shaped the 3rd District race between Maloy and former state Rep. Phil Lyman.
Like McAdams, Maloy falls in the top 10 for candidates nationwide who have benefited from AI-related PAC spending.
Public First, a PAC backing candidates who want more regulations on AI, started by former Rep. Chris Stewart, has dropped nearly $1 million to support Maloy.
AI has become a major point of division between the two conservative candidates.
Maloy played a role in resisting the White House’s push to prevent state-level AI restrictions. Lyman supports a hands-off approach to stop AI from being used for government surveillance.
The candidates have been forced to articulate a position on one of the most energetic issues in Utah politics, AI data centers, with Maloy focusing on local approval for a much-needed technology and Lyman urging more transparency.
Maloy’s third reelection campaign in as many years, following Lyman’s unsuccessful bids for governor and GOP chair in 2024 and 2025, will, in large part, be defined by the sprawling district they are running in, covering 60% of Utah.
It includes voters in Utah County, all of eastern Utah and all of southern Utah — 60% of whom are new for Maloy.