The district, which is comprised by more than half of Republican voters, is primarily rural and warmly received Maloy’s campaign stumping about her homespun local upbringing.
Politics
JUST IN: Pro-Trump Candidate Wins Special Election For US House Seat
Voters in Utah spoke loudly Tuesday evening, electing a Republican strongly aligned with former President Donald Trump and rebuking a moderate Democrat who never gained traction in the solidly conservative district.
Congresswoman-elect Celeste Maloy (R-UT) declared victory over Democratic State Senator Kathleen Riebe shortly after polls closed in an election that adds heft to the House GOP’s narrow governing majority. The race was held in the state’s 2nd Congressional District and was triggered by the resignation of former Republican Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), for whom Maloy served as chief legal counsel.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:36pm after results showed Maloey leading Riebe 58 percent to 34 percent and winning 12 of the district’s 13 counties. Riebe only saw success in Democrat-heavy Salt Lake City, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
“We did it! I have been running for this seat for six months and haven’t cried much,” she told supporters, fighting back tears Tuesday night. “I don’t think I’ll be able to make it anymore.”
“I’ve been really careful not to make a lot of promises because it’s tough to deliver on some of them,” she said. “But one thing I can promise is that I’m going to do everything I can to be the best representative of the people in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District.”
In addition to her empathy with the lives of Utah’s conservative exurbanites, Maloy found success by vocally defending President Trump against various prosecutions she claims are politically motivated. She touted her support for federal abortion restrictions in a district where nearly two-thirds of people are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Riebe, meanwhile, never found her footing while attempting to navigate a field of political landmines laid down by far-left agitators upset over Israel’s war with Hamas, President Joe Biden’s lackluster domestic performance, and post-Roe battles at the state level. She cited conversations with voters disgusted by the state of the modern Republican Party and said they “are ready for a change.”
Maloy found herself the target of hometown reporting during the campaign when the Salt Lake Tribune reported that she was related to far-right, anti-government ranchers Cliven Bundy and Ammon Bundy, whose dispute with officials over federal land led to an armed standoff. Maloy denounced their tactics but reiterated her belief that states should exercise control over federal lands within their boundaries.
Both state and national arms of the GOP did not take the race for granted. The Utah GOP poured $20,000 into the race while the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) congratulated Maloy on a hard-found win.
“Utahns have spoken — they want a strong conservative fighting to lower inflation and get our border crisis under control — and that’s what Celeste will deliver as their congresswoman,” said NRCC Chair and North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) in a statement.
