⏰ Tick Tock
Days until the court-mandated deadline for lawmakers to submit new congressional maps (9/24/2025) - 26
Days until Election Day (11/4/2025) - 67
Days to the start of the 2026 Utah Legislature (1/20/2026) - 144
Days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026) - 431
Days until the 2028 presidential election (11/7/2028) - 1,166
Will Ben McAdams run again?
Utah’s court-ordered redraw of its congressional map could do something the state hasn’t seen in years: produce a genuinely competitive U.S. House seat—and a scramble to claim it.
One name is already circulating in Democratic circles: former Congressman Ben McAdams. The reason is simple: name ID and cash.
The name that seems to be bubbling up in Democratic circles is former Congressman Ben McAdams, which makes sense because of two critical factors in political campaigning: name ID and campaign cash.
McAdams is arguably the best-known Democrat in Utah right now, and he would enter the race as a known commodity. He wouldn't have to spend time and money introducing himself to voters.
And he can raise money—lots of it. In 2018, he pulled in nearly $3.4 million to unseat Republican Mia Love. Two years later, he raised more than $5.6 million in a narrow loss to Republican Burgess Owens.
If the new map tucks enough Democratic-friendly turf into a single district, McAdams starts with advantages others can’t buy.
Sources close to McAdams tell Utah Political Watch that he may take a serious look at running in 2026, depending on what happens with new maps. McAdams could not be reached for comment.
McAdams would not be the first Utahn to lose a congressional seat and then return.
According to Dr. Eric Ostermeier, who runs the indispensable Smart Politics website, there are several examples in Utah history.
In 1946, Republican William Dawson, who served as Davis County Attorney, Layton Mayor, and in the Utah State Senate, unseated Democratic Congressman J. William Robinson. Two years later, Dawson lost to Democrat Reva Bosone, but defeated Bosone in a rematch in 1952.
Friday morning's headlines
Utah and the West
Utah lawmakers signal they may use map do-over to force court delay, pushing new congressional maps past 2026. [Utah Political Watch]
Utah State University lays off researchers after Trump administration cuts federal grants. [Salt Lake Tribune]
CVS is not offering Covid vaccines in 16 states, including Utah, even to those who meet new criteria from the Food and Drug Administration. [New York Times]
Salt Lake City to make changes to public events permits after fatal No Kings shooting. [KSL]
Trump admin moves to strip protections on 4 million acres of national forests across Utah. [Salt Lake Tribune]
It's been one of southern Utah's driest years in memory. So why can't these cities agree on a drought plan? [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah launches attendance campaign to combat rising absenteeism, dropout rates. [KUTV]
Nation
When Congress returns to Washington next week, a fight over avoiding a government shutdown awaits them. [Semafor]
President Donald Trump canceled former Vice President Kamala Harris's Secret Service protection detail. [NBC News]
The National Guard deployment to Washington, D.C., is costing roughly $1 million per day. [CNN]
The Trump administration plans to conduct a major immigration enforcement operation in Chicago as soon as next week. [CNN]
World
A brawl erupted in Mexico's senate during a debate over U.S. military troops fighting drug cartels. [The Guardian]
Economy
A loophole exempting packages worth less than $800 from tariffs ended Friday morning. [ABC News]
Companies are forecasting higher prices for consumers as a result of President Trump's tariffs. [Wall Street Journal]
Foreign tourists are avoiding America. [The Economist]
Health
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez after she refused to fire career officials and support recommendations to restrict access to proven vaccines. [New York Times]
- Chaos engulfs the CDC following Monarez's ouster. [PBS]
