Republican Celeste Maloy Leads in Early Returns for Utah's Special Congressional Election

Despite the early lead, a strong performance from Democrat Kathleen Riebe could signal future opportunities for Democrats in the district.

Republican Celeste Maloy takes an early lead in Utah's special congressional election, leading Democrat Kathleen Riebe 53% to 38% in early returns.
Maloy, a first-time candidate and former staffer in Stewart’s office, has focused much of her campaign on her rural roots, performing best in the most rural parts of the state.
Riebe, a Utah state senator and public school teacher, won the Democratic nomination over two opponents in June.
Despite the Republican lead, observers suggest a solid performance from Riebe could signal to Democrats that the second congressional district could be a more viable pickup opportunity in the future.
Regardless of who wins, there won’t be much time for the winner to celebrate as candidates can start filing to run in next year’s election on Jan. 2, 2024.