Utah Republicans ignited a political showdown as they blocked a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump from seizing the nomination for the soon-to-be-vacant UT-02.
Instead, they catapulted Celeste Maloy into the spotlight, positioning her to succeed Rep. Chris Stewart, who is stepping down from Congress to care for his ailing wife. Maloy, a former aide to Stewart, triumphed over former state Rep. Becky Edwards and former state party chair Bruce Hough, who claimed the second and third spots, respectively, in this intense contest.
The race was an electrifying nail-biter between Maloy and Edwards. Tuesday night saw Edwards starting with a promising lead, but Maloy surged ahead as the results from the more rural southern regions of the state poured in. The Associated Press officially declared Maloy the victor on Wednesday evening, with a commanding lead of over 2,000 votes.
Maloy’s campaign had the full backing of the Utah Republican Party, and she strategically emphasized her unique status as the sole candidate hailing from rural southern Utah—a message that resonated deeply with voters.
“As I’ve declared throughout this race, I am committed to representing the entire district,” proclaimed Maloy in a statement on Wednesday night. “There will not be an area, a county, or a community in this district that will receive anything less than my unwavering attention as your congressional representative.”
Edwards, who had been critical of the former president, faced an uphill battle, despite her name recognition from an unsuccessful challenge against Trump ally Sen. Mike Lee last year. She positioned herself as a “common-sense conservative” but encountered resistance for her 2020 vote in favor of President Joe Biden. Her subsequent regret did little to sway voters who had rallied behind Trump in 2020.
UT-02 spans a vast territory, encompassing Democratic-leaning Salt Lake City, as well as expansive rural areas in the southern and western parts of the state. Following the latest round of redistricting, the district—already a Trump stronghold—tilted even further to the red side of the spectrum, with Trump enjoying a 17-point advantage.
Historically, Trump hasn’t held the strongest standing in Utah, given Senator Mitt Romney’s status as a prominent Trump critic. Maloy’s victory over Edwards may give Trump pause as he contemplates running for reelection in 2024.
Maloy weathered a storm of controversy as opponents unsuccessfully attempted to remove her from the ballot when they discovered that she wasn’t registered as a Republican in Utah when she initially filed to run for the seat.
With the district’s political landscape in mind, Maloy now embarks on a promising journey to victory in the November 21 general election. Her adversary will be Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who faced no primary competition, alongside a handful of third-party contenders. The stage is set for an electrifying showdown that will capture the nation’s attention.
