Almost two weeks after 3rd District Court Judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Utah’s congressional maps violated the state Constitution, Democratic operatives are quietly lining up resources ahead of the Sept. 24 deadline to finish the redistricting process.
While there is a chance that the Utah Supreme Court will agree to hear an appeal opposing Gibson’s latest ruling, it was the state Supreme Court that ruled unanimously in July 2024 against the process the legislature took to redraw the districts.
If the congressional maps are redrawn, Utah could see its first competitive House election since 2020, when Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams narrowly lost his reelection bid to former pro football player Burgess Owens by just 3,765 votes.
Despite Utah’s current 4-0 Republican House delegation, it is easy to forget that between 2000 and 2025, Democrats held one of Utah’s House seats for 16 of those 25 years.
While it is early, here are a few potential candidates likely considering a run.
Ben McAdams
The most recent Democrat to win a election in Utah, Ben McAdams raised an impressive $5.6 million during the 2020 cycle. While in office, he held a reputation as a centrist Democrat endorsed by the Blue Dog Democrats. Perhaps most notably, he joined 14 Democratic colleagues to vote against Nancy Pelosi for House speaker in 2019. Sources close to McAdams tell the Deseret News that he is preparing to run to regain his seat if the opportunity arises.
Caroline Gleich
Despite losing her recent bid for retiring Sen. Mitt Romney’s Senate seat in 2024, Caroline Gleich recently commented on the possibility of another run for office, saying she was “still in the arena.” While running for Senate in 2024, Gleich boasted the highest single-quarter fundraising total for a Democratic Senate candidate in Utah since 1982.
Brian King
Most recently the Democratic nominee for governor in 2024, Brian King previously served in the Utah House from 2009 to 2024. After his election in May as chair of the Utah Democratic Party, King reiterated his commitment to “lead the charge to hold out-of-touch Republicans accountable, to connect with voters across the state and political spectrum, and to flip seats from the top of the ballot to the bottom.”
Luz Escamilla
Serving in the Utah House since 2009, Rep. Luz Escamilla previously ran for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District in 2013 and for mayor of Salt Lake City in 2019. Her experience both in the legislature and on the campaign trail, along with a bipartisan approach to lawmaking, could prove essential to winning a crowded primary and competitive general election.
Erin Mendenhall
A former member of the Salt Lake City Council from 2014 to 2020, Erin Mendenhall has served as the 36th mayor of Salt Lake City since 2020. While serving on the city council, Mendenhall helped lower campaign contribution limits and worked on public safety issues. As mayor, she has focused on housing and affordability.
Jenny Wilson
Previously a member of the Salt Lake City Council from 2005-2011, Jenny Wilson has served as the mayor of Salt Lake County since 2019. She is the daughter of former Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson and was the Democratic nominee for Senate in 2018 against Mitt Romney. Wilson has focused on opioid abuse, expanding economic opportunities and immigration.