Republican Celeste Maloy Wins the Primary Election for Utah’s Second Congressional District
In a surprising upset victory, Celeste Maloy has been declared the winner of the Republican primary election for Utah’s Second Congressional District. The Associated Press called the election in Maloy’s favor, as she captured 38 percent of the vote.
The three-way race between Maloy, former state Rep. Becky Edwards, and businessman Bruce Hough grew increasingly tense as the night wore on. However, Maloy managed to overtake Edwards in the vote count, thanks to strong numbers from Washington County.
Shortly after the race was called, Maloy received a phone call from Edwards. “She called me before she tweeted, so I had a couple of minutes to get myself together before the tweet, but I didn’t expect anything to happen today,” said Maloy.
Not long after, Hough also conceded the race and called to congratulate Maloy. “Bruce Hough just called and conceded and congratulated me, and he shares my goal of uniting the Republican party behind the nominee,” said Maloy during an interview with FOX 13 News.
Maloy’s victory comes as a surprise, as she considered herself a dark horse candidate. She achieved an upset win at the Utah Republican Party’s convention back in June for the special election. Now, just two months later, she stands as the Republican Party’s nominee for the special general election in November.
“I’ve said from the beginning that whoever represents this district needs to represent the district as a whole, and I absolutely intend to do that,” said Maloy. “But it has been so sweet watching the support roll in from southern and rural Utah.”
Maloy, a former staffer for Congressman Chris Stewart, will be filling the seat after he resigns, midterm, effective September 15. This shift in power may signal the emergence of Southern Utah as a political stronghold.
Mary Weaver Bennett, Director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, believes this race reflects the growing political influence of southern Utah. “So, what you’re seeing, I think, is the emergence of Southern Utah as a political power,” said Bennett. “For so long, political power seems to have been concentrated in the Salt Lake and suburban areas.”
For voters in southern Utah, Maloy’s victory represents an opportunity to have a representative who understands their unique needs and challenges. Bryson Wood, a resident of Beaver, cited Maloy’s commitment to keeping public lands public as one of the reasons he supported her. “She had the same mindset that people often do in smaller communities, and I think that’s why they gravitated towards her,” said Wood.
Maloy, who hails from Cedar City, believes her unique perspective as a resident of the southern part of the state is what resonated with voters. “I’ve been out talking to voters and especially in rural Utah, they seem to be really excited about having the opportunity to have a representative who has a long drive to the Salt Lake airport just like they do,” said Maloy.
Maloy’s next challenge will be the special general election on November 21, where she will face off against Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe. The result of this race will have significant implications for Utah’s Second Congressional District, as the winner will take over the seat previously held by Congressman Chris Stewart.