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SALT LAKE CITY — Voters in Utah's 2nd Congressional District are reliably Republican, meaning GOP primary winner Celeste Maloy is a heavy favorite over Democrat Kathleen Riebe in November's general election.
Indeed, several congratulations from high-ranking Republicans in the state seemed to imply that Maloy has already wrapped up the contest and is already on her way to Congress.
"Congratulations to Celeste Maloy!" Utah Gov. Spencer Cox posted Wednesday on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "She is a dedicated and brilliant public servant and will make an incredible member of Congress. She knows this district better than anyone and will make Utah proud. I couldn't be more excited for her (and us)."
"Congratulations to @CelesteMaloyUT on a well-run race," Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted the same day. "I look forward to working with you as we fight for Utahns and tackle some of our country's most important issues."
While Riebe, a teacher and state senator from Cottonwood Heights, faces a steep climb over the more than 70 days of campaigning ahead, the race won't be over until it's officially called.
KSL.com spoke with representatives of both campaigns to understand their strategies and know what to expect as the general election gets into full swing.
The general election is Nov. 21.
A 'nerdy,' consistent message
The special election — which kicked off in the wake of Rep. Chris Stewart's May announcement that he would step down to care for his wife who suffered a stroke last year — has been a whirlwind for everyone involved.
Within a month, the Utah Republican Party convened for a special convention during which delegates picked Maloy, Stewart's ex-staffer, as the surprise winner. Two weeks later, both Becky Edwards and Bruce Hough submitted the requisite signatures to qualify for a primary election, setting up a three-way showdown for the party's nomination.
Speaking first to the 900 or so delegates at the convention, then to the nearly 90,000 Republican voters, Maloy has shared a consistent message about the importance of state powers and the need for representation from rural Utah.
The message has gotten her this far, and she's not about to pivot now, even as her audience expands to include all voters in the district; Republican, Democrat or independent.
"I'm not planning on changing my message at all," Maloy told KSL.com. "There's not much I can change, nor is there anything I really want to change. My message is still nerdy, but the structure of our government matters. ... And I want to help restore balance to those separations. The executive branch is too powerful and doesn't have enough checks. The legislative branch needs to step up and act as a check."
But even as she sticks with the message that endeared her to conservative voters, Maloy said she wouldn't neglect constituents who disagree with her.
"Representation isn't just about political views and votes ... it's helping the people who live in your district work through issues they have with the IRS, or with Veterans Affairs, or any of the agencies that people in Utah have to deal with on a regular basis, and that is not partisan work," she said.
Her plan is to reassure all voters that her door will be open, and — especially for those who live off the Wasatch Front — they will have representation they can relate to.
Appealing to dissatisfied Republicans
Riebe's campaign strategy was contingent on which of the three Republicans came out of the primary, according to her campaign manager, Theo Gardner-Puschak, who said Maloy's victory could leave a path open for the Democrat.
Edwards represented the more moderate wing of the GOP in the recent primary, a role she played when she challenged Lee in a primary last year.
"Frankly, it would have been a very different race" had Edwards won, Gardner-Puschak told KSL.com Thursday, adding that he expects Maloy to continue running to the right in the general election.
He said the campaign has seen support from moderates in both parties who had previously supported Edwards.
"A large portion of those people made up this coalition in the Senate race last year and also have been both longtime Democrats and longtime Republicans who are looking for a new option," he said. "They have really expressed dissatisfaction for the way that Chris Stewart ran his congressional office and voted when he was in Congress."
But just because Edwards earned about one-third of the vote in the recent GOP primary doesn't mean those voters are ready to support a Democrat — even a moderate one.
Riebe plans to run a campaign focused on personal freedom, in opposition to Republican state leaders who have, in Gardner-Puschak's words, strayed from the traditionally conservative ideal of small government. The Legislature has recently enacted laws to halt access to transgender-related surgeries for minors and limit how K-12 educators can discuss racism, sexism, ageism and religious discrimination in classrooms.
"You have a really conservative government here at the state level that is intent on getting into the classroom, getting into health care and meddling with people's daily lives," he said. "That's really what we're running on for this race is a message of freedom, of freedom to make health care decisions, freedom to make sure that our environment isn't hurting our children on a daily basis with the air quality we have. ... I think the choice is clear."
