Utah voters won’t get to see House candidates debate each other in tense race
Eden Villalovas
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Republican candidates competing in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District special election will not face off in the primary debate typically held by the Utah Debate Commission.
Three GOP contenders hoping to replace Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), who announced his resignation last month, will not debate before the primary in September, with board members citing the high costs of putting on the debate.
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“Resources are always a factor like any non-profit organization,” Wayne Niederhauser, UDC Board co-chairman, told KSL News. “We not only have to plan for the special election but also for an election year in 2024.”
Last year, Utah’s GOP held its own debates independent from the UDC for primary contenders for Senate and Congress. Utah GOP Chairman Carson Jorgensen, who has since stepped down, cited the party had concerns over bipartisanship with the commission. The UDC has been hosting debates since 2014 and began holding primary debates in 2018.
The Utah Republican Party selected Celeste Maloy as their nominee this month, joining former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and GOP national committeeman Bruce Hough in what is expected to be a competitive race.
Campaign finances show Edwards raised $207,478 in contributions, excluding $100,00 in loans, for the second quarter of 2023. Hough racked up $59,195, excluding $200,000 in loans. The GOP favorite, Maloy, had $72,645 in contributions.
Maloy has called for 13 debates, one for each county in the 2nd District, with fellow GOP candidate Hough supporting the proposal.
“Republicans deserve a robust debate on the policies that directly impact their lives and the direction of our country, and I am eager to share my positions and show how I plan to fight for the conservative values of the people I am running to represent.” Maloy said in a news release last week.
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The victorious Republican candidate from the Sept. 5 primary will face Utah Democratic Party nominee Senate Minority Whip Kathleen Riebe in the November general election.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Utah Debate Commission for comment.