Republican Celeste Maloy Wins Utah Special Election
Republican Celeste Maloy has emerged victorious in the Utah special election to replace her former boss, U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. This historic win will mark the return of a woman to Utah's five-member congressional delegation for the first time since 2019.
Maloy faced tough competition from state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who holds the position of minority whip in the Utah Senate. Despite Riebe's strong credentials as the second-ranking Democrat, Maloy managed to secure the majority of votes.
Stewart's resignation in September, after serving 10 years in Congress, was prompted by his wife's illness. This created a vacancy that Maloy successfully filled.
Having previously served as Stewart's chief legal counsel, Maloy enjoyed the endorsement of her former boss as well as former Utah U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop. These endorsements, combined with the district's reliable Republican leanings, made Maloy the favorite in the race. The 2nd District, which stretches from Salt Lake City to the state's western and southern edges, has traditionally been a stronghold for the Republican Party.
Maloy's victory will make her the fifth woman in history to represent Utah in the House of Representatives. The most recent woman to hold this position was Mia Love, who served from 2015 to 2019 and became the state's first Black congresswoman. Notably, Utah has never had a woman in the U.S. Senate.
The recent election has determined the 435th member of the House, marking the first time this year that the House will have all 435 members. Former Representative David Cicilline of Rhode Island's resignation took effect on June 1, and Democrat Gabe Amo won the special election for that seat on November 7.
In the Republican-leaning 2nd congressional district, which spans from southern and western Utah to Salt Lake City, Maloy, a southern Nevada native and resident of southwestern Utah, emerged as the favorite. She will join the state's three other Republican U.S. House members, while the state's two U.S. senators are also Republican.
Maloy's campaign focused on various issues including improving security on the U.S.-Mexico border, reining in federal spending, protecting religious freedom, and giving Utah more control over its federal lands' natural resources.
During a debate on October 26, Maloy emphasized her experience working for Stewart and her ability to navigate through the challenges faced by Congress. She stated, "I've been working for this district. I've been solving issues that people in this district have called their congressman about and asked for help. Congress is struggling right now. Things aren't going smoothly and we really need somebody to get into this state who knows how Congress works."
A candidate from Long Island who currently resides in the Salt Lake City suburb of Cottonwood Heights has campaigned on her experience as a teacher. She has pledged to continue teaching five days a week while also focusing on issues such as affordable housing, support for labor unions, and public education that caters to the needs of students and aligns with community values. In a recent debate with her opponent, she emphasized her connection with families across the state and her efforts to understand how policies affect their daily lives.
The last woman to represent Utah in the U.S. House was Mia Love, who served from 2015-2019 and made history as the state's first Black congresswoman.
The incumbent congressman, who has served six terms and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, announced in May that he would be resigning to take care of his ill wife. This led to a scramble among Republicans to fill his seat.
In a three-way Republican special primary held on September 5, the candidate who garnered significant rural support emerged as the winner. She defeated a former state representative and a businessperson to secure the Republican nomination.
On the Democratic side, there was no primary as the candidate mentioned earlier received the highest number of votes in a Democratic convention and was unopposed for her party's nomination.
