By McKenzie Romero | Editor
With a blue wave sweeping across the nation, one contribution is coming from Utah as former Rep. Ben McAdams decisively won the state’s new and heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District.
Meanwhile, the state’s incumbent Republicans in the U.S. House were leading in their races, with victory called for Rep. Celeste Maloy in CD3. And when it came to the Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to raise the threshold on some voter-driven ballot initiatives, Utah voters gave a big thumbs down.
Our special election results edition of the Dispatch updates you on McAdams’ win, GOP incumbents on track to return to Congress and the fall of Amendment B, plus our look at legislative results and judicial retention votes.
“You don’t get angry about something that you’ve given up on. You don’t speak up unless you believe your voice matters. You don’t protest unless you think that somebody might listen, you don’t show up unless some part of you believes that this place is still worth fighting for. That anger was hope the whole time.” — Democrat Ben McAdams speaking to supporters after his win in Utah’s new 1st Congressional District.
Ben McAdams is congratulated by staff after early results indicated he would win his race for Utah’s 1st congressional district during an election night party for Democrats at the Hilton in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
By Alixel Cabrera
Utah christened its blue 1st Congressional District as former U.S. House Rep. Ben McAdams won with 72% of votes, according to preliminary results Tuesday night. Republican Riley Owen had 25%.
A crowded event celebrating Utah Democratic Party candidates erupted in cheers as they refreshed the state’s election results website to show McAdams leading, and again when he made his way onstage. He thanked those who worked to pass and defend Proposition 4, which in 2018 started the redistricting battle that led to the state’s current congressional map.
People line up outside a polling location at the Main Library in Salt Lake City on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)
By Annie Knox and Will Ruzanski
Republican incumbents running for Utah’s three right-leaning congressional districts took the lead after polls closed, with Rep. Celeste Maloy the only declared winner Tuesday night by The Associated Press.
Under a court-ordered redraw of the state’s congressional map, all three representatives — Blake Moore, Mike Kennedy and Maloy — vied for different seats in the U.S. House than they’re currently representing. If their leads hold, they’ll return to a Congress controlled by Democrats.
Protesters hold up signs against amendments A and B during the No Kings protest at the Utah Capitol on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)
By Katie McKellar
Preliminary election night results show Utahns rejecting the Utah Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to make it harder for ballot initiatives that come with tax increases to pass into law.
Amendment B — which would require certain citizen-proposed laws to be approved by at least 60% of voters instead of a simple majority as currently required in the Utah Constitution — had only 37% approval after polls closed Tuesday night. About 63% voted to reject it.
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