Celeste Maloy wins special House primary to replace retiring Utah Rep. Chris Stewart
Cami Mondeaux
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Attorney Celeste Maloy won the GOP special primary for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, paving the way for her to replace Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) after he steps down from Congress later this month.
Maloy advanced to the general election with roughly 38% of the vote at the time the race was called, almost a day after the polls closed on Tuesday.
She previously won the Republican nomination during the state’s GOP convention in June but was forced into a primary election against former state Rep. Becky Edwards and former Utah GOP Chairman Bruce Hough after the two garnered enough signatures to appear on the ballot. Stewart notably endorsed Maloy, who served as chief legal counsel to the congressman.
If she wins, it will mark the first time since 1997 a female candidate was elected to represent the 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses much of the western portion of the state, stretching from the outskirts of the Salt Lake City area all the way down to St. George in the south.
Maloy is likely to win in the general election in November, as the seat is considered to be safely Republican.
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Stewart announced he would be retiring from his House seat in late May, citing his wife’s health as the reason for his early departure from the seat he’s held for 10 years. The six-term lawmaker will step down from Congress on Sept. 15.
Maloy will go on to face Democratic candidate Kathleen Riebe in the general special election on Nov. 21.