Utah Civic GuideSalt Lake County · Utah · nonpartisan
Preview · data is being verified · analytical ratings are labeled opinions

2026 candidate

Ben McAdams

Candidate, U.S. House · CD1 (2026 map)

OfficeCandidate, U.S. HouseDistrictCD1 (2026 map)PartyDemocraticNext electionNov 3, 2026Raised$2.26M

At a glance

  • Former U.S. Representative (UT-4, 2019–21) and former Salt Lake County Mayor.
  • Won the June 2026 Democratic primary with 51.9%.
  • $2.26M raised; ~$2.7M outside spending in support (reported).
  • Scored most conservative House Democrat of the 116th Congress (Voteview).
Open compare
Analytical assessment, not factMedium confidence
OverallModerate
FiscalModerate
SocialLean liberal
Very liberalModerateVery conservative

Moderate (center-left Blue Dog-style Democrat) — fiscal: moderate; social: lean liberal.

Evidence behind this assessment
  1. Prior votes (116th Congress): DW-NOMINATE −0.069 — the most conservative House Democrat in the 116th (Voteview H116).
  2. Party-line share: not recomputed for 2019–21 (gap).
  3. X posts (@BenMcAdams): "isn't really about Republicans versus Democrats" — post; touts Human Rights Campaign endorsement — post; pro-union message — post.

Rating method

Full details below are grouped by area. Facts link to public sources; "[COMPUTED]" marks derived dates.

Candidate notes (public record)
  • Ben McAdams (D) — Former U.S. Representative for UT-4 (2019–2021) and former Salt Lake County Mayor (bioguide M001209). Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 51.9% (29,737 votes) (Project Curia results summary; verify against vote.utah.gov). FEC H8UT04053, committee C00658633: 2026 receipts $2,262,254.60; disbursements $1,977,908.28; cash on hand $299,349.65; individual contributions $1,977,494.37; PAC $193,290.83. Outside spending supporting him ~$2.71M (Decision Desk HQ; verify at FEC independent expenditures). In his 2019–21 term, Voteview scored him as the most conservative House Democrat in the 116th Congress (DW-NOMINATE −0.069) (Voteview H116).
About this office: U.S. Representative

A full-time federal lawmaker elected every two years who represents about 820,000 Utahns (2020 census) in the U.S. House: votes on federal laws and spending, serves on committees, and helps constituents with federal agencies.

Role
Member of the U.S. House, two-year term
Hours
Full-time
Pay
$174,000
Typical week
Votes and committee work in Washington several days a week when the House is in session; district work periods in Utah; staff casework year-round

Responsibilities and powers

  • The House shares legislative power with the Senate, must originate all revenue bills, and has the sole power of impeachment (U.S. Constitution Art. I, Sec. 1, 2 and 7).
  • Members serve two-year terms (Art. I, Sec. 2). Under the 2026 court-ordered map, Taylorsville is in Congressional District 1, an open seat on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot.

A typical week [INFERRED from the House calendar and office structure]

  • In session: floor votes, committee hearings and markups, and meetings with constituents and groups in Washington, usually Monday or Tuesday evening through Thursday or Friday.
  • District work periods: town halls, meetings with local governments, businesses and schools, and events in Utah.
  • Casework: district and DC staff help constituents with Social Security, veterans, passports and immigration cases.

Time commitment

  • Full-time, with weekly travel between Utah and Washington [INFERRED].

Staff and budget

  • Each member's office budget, the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), has ranged from $1.85 million to $2.09 million since 2023 (average $1.93M; unchanged in 2026). It pays for staff, travel, mail and offices, with a limit of 18 permanent employees plus up to four part-time or temporary ones (CRS RL30064, Sept. 10, 2026).

Pay

  • $174,000 a year, frozen since 2009; the 2026 raise was blocked by P.L. 119-37. The Speaker earns $223,500 and party leaders $193,400. Benefits are FEHB health coverage and FERS retirement (CRS 97-1011).

Sources

  • U.S. Constitution Art. I
  • CRS 97-1011; CRS RL30064 (Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief)

Compare with every office →

Sources