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SALT LAKE CITY — Two Democrats eager to take on Congressman Rob Bishop will first have to battle one another in Utah's upcoming primary elections.
Ryan Combe and Donna McAleer are vying for Utah's 1st Congressional District and will face off in a debate Thursday night in Logan. It's their last debate before the June 26 primary.
The 1st District serves the northwest area of Utah, including the cities of Ogden, Logan, Tooele; the northwest portion of Salt Lake City; and the entirety of the Great Salt Lake. Whichever candidate walks away with a majority vote will face Bishop in November.
For McAleer, it's all about preserving Utah values, and preserving the natural things that drew her to Utah in the first place.
"(Rob Bishop) has continued to put profits in front of people," she said.
When it comes to what it will take beat Bishop, she's not shy about her experience.
"We need people with practical experience and proven results in the military, in nonprofit. We need parents, we need educators," McAleer said.
Combe is a Utah native, and he wants to be a congressman who really represents the people.
"Everyone is tired of the big money that's being spent in politics," he said.
He's a Democrat who has also served an LDS mission: a conversation starter, he says.
"What's been great about that is it opens up a dialogue to say, ‘Well, let me tell you about values that I've found in the Democratic Party that really related to our communities and to our families here in northern Utah,'" Combe said.
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Both Democratic candidates are combating something even more powerful than Bishop: voter apathy. And both have a plan of action.
Combe says voter registration is the key. "That's the way to get money out of politics, is to actually get voters concerned and voting."
Meanwhile, McAleer is coaxing voters to show up to the polls, mail in a ballot, just let their voice be heard. "We're hearing a lot of energy and excitement, and we're building on momentum from the (Utah Democratic) Convention," she said.
Of course, incumbent Bishop has won by super majorities each time he's run. But each of these candidates thinks they've got the stuff to knock him out of office in November.
