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CLEARFIELD — The battle is on in District One where Congressman Rob Bishop is heavily favored in his re-election bid this year, but even Bishop admits he's facing a spirited challenge from Democrat Donna McAleer.
You're not going to see a lot of ads on television in the first district race, but you'll see McAleer is working with the resources she has to take on powerful incumbent Rob Bishop, who is running for his sixth term in office and is popular enough to have at least 60% percent of the vote each election.
But McAleer is hoping to stop Bishop's momentum, claiming she has what it takes to serve Utah's first district.
"I'm invested in this, and I think the biggest difference is a willingness to work with people from across the aisle, work with different backgrounds and collaborate and deliver results," McAleer said. "Congress has been kicking the can down the road for far too long."
Bishop points to his experience in Washington.
"I still think I'm in the middle of this district philosophically, I'm in the right position in Washington, I have the right experience," he said. "I think I can make a big difference for the state of Utah."
It was with those differences that Bishop and McAleer faced off at Clearfield High School for a taping of a debate on Sunday Edition.
On Hill Air Force Base, Bishop says he's done work to ensure it thrives in Utah.
"We have a lot of things that are really positive that are going on out there, and we know how to make sure Hill Air Force Base will not be unfairly attacked in the future," he said.
McAleer says Bishop isn't doing enough. In fact, she says Bishop's part of the divisive atmosphere in Washington, which she says is reason enough to support her claim that First District voters are ready for a change.
"I think he's a senior partner in the problem," she said. "When you vote 95 percent of the time with your party leadership, that's not about compromise."
Bishop and McAleer aren't afraid to point out their differences — especially to one another.
