Overview and Live Results: Utah 2nd Congressional District Special Election
By 270toWin Staff
November 21, 2023, 11:57 AM ET
Voters in Utah's 2nd Congressional District will select a new U.S. Representative on Tuesday. The winner will complete the term of Republican Chris Stewart, who resigned in September.
Stewart's chief legal counsel, Celeste Maloy won a competitive three-way primary in early September. State Sen. Kathleen Riebe was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Maloy and Riebe participated in a late October debate.
The Libertarian, Constitution, and United Utah parties are also represented on the ballot, along with two independent candidates.
The district includes part of the Salt Lake City area and much of the state to the south and west. Like the state's three other districts, it is solidly Republican. Stewart was elected to his 6th and final term by a 26% margin in 2022, while Donald Trump won the district by about 17% in 2020.
However, in the only public poll of the race, Maloy had a narrower 43% to 34% lead.
According to AP, "In order to win, Riebe would need a significant turnout from the portion of Salt Lake County located in the district. She would also need to significantly cut into the Republican advantage in western and southern Utah."
This special election is during a major holiday week, which may affect turnout. Perhaps offsetting this, Utah's elections are conducted largely by mail. Ballots returned by mail needed a postmark of no later than Monday, November 20.
Election Day polling places close at 10:00 PM Eastern Time.
Utah's 2nd district is currently the only vacancy in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a 221-213 partisan advantage. While the winner will return the chamber to full strength, that will only last about two months, at most. Democrat Brian Higgins (NY-26) has announced he will be resigning in early Februrary.
