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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — <\/span>For decades, Democrats’ only chance of getting elected to Congress from the conservative state of Utah was by convincing voters that they were sensible moderates, not like the zealous progressives from California or Colorado. <\/p>\n But the political landscape has changed, thanks to a redistricting shakeup<\/a> that created a deep blue district anchored by Salt Lake City. Suddenly, congressional candidates are trying to outflank each other on the left in an unusual race that could help determine whether Democrats take back control of the U.S. House in the midterms<\/a>. <\/p>\n Exhibit A is Ben McAdams<\/a>, a former congressman who once described himself as pro-life and voted against a federal minimum wage increase. As he mounts a comeback campaign in a much more Democratic district, he pledged his support for abortion rights and raising the minimum wage during a recent forum for young voters. <\/p>\n As primary opponents criticized McAdams as the most conservative among them, he insisted that he’s only \u201cmoderate in tone.\u201d<\/p>\n It’s a far different approach than McAdams used in 2018, when he ousted a Republican incumbent in the midterms of President Donald Trump’s first term. While representing the southwest Salt Lake Valley and parts of deep-red Utah County in the former 4th district, he was considered the most conservative House Democrat during his single term by one analysis<\/a>, before losing reelection to a Republican. <\/p>\n McAdams is now running in the new 1st district, including all of Salt Lake City and much of its suburbs, which emerged from a years-long legal battle<\/a> over Utah’s congressional map. <\/p>\n Whoever wins the primary will likely win the November general election, and McAdams faces a half-dozen Democratic opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes me a strong candidate is the fact that I’ve actually delivered on a lot of things people are talking about,\u201d McAdams told The Associated Press. \u201cIt’s easy to have a strongly worded tweet or talking points, but I can actually follow that up with accomplishments that are making life better.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin views Utah’s 1st district as a foothold in a red state that could not only help the party win the House this year but set it up for long-term success. He said the party is pouring more money into Utah than ever before \u2014 at least $22,500 a month \u2014 to build infrastructure ahead of the 2030 census<\/a>, when the fast-growing state could gain House seats.<\/p>\n The recipe for success, Martin said, is a willingness to meet voters where they’re at and a platform that reflects \u201cnot just the majority of Democrats, but the majority of the people in the district.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike state Republicans, the Democrats are holding an open primary on June 23, meaning anyone in the district can vote, regardless of party affiliation. That could benefit a candidate like McAdams, who built a broad base during his previous campaign. But state party leaders have said they’re confident that registered Democrats have a strong enough majority to decide the primary.<\/p>\n Democrats have historically struggled to gain solid footing in Utah, where about half the population belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>. Members of the faith known widely as the Mormon church have always leaned Republican. <\/p>\n Even though the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, the capital is one of the only places where Democrats hold local control and religion takes a back seat in politics.<\/p>\n Martin expects the youth vote will be key to winning in Utah and building longevity there. Utah is the youngest state, with a median age of about 32.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a group that\u2019s up for grabs,\u201d he told the AP, noting that Democrats too often assume young voters are with them. He said that could mean Utah \u201cis one of the biggest potential swing states in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Robert Axson, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, rejected that notion.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything I am seeing shows the younger generation continuing to lead in the promotion of our conservative principles,\u201d he said. “While we see the generational passing of the torch, there is not a political swing away from the values that make Utah a wonderful place to call home.”<\/p>\n Several young voters who came to meet candidates on a Saturday morning in Taylorsville said they hoped to capitalize on the opportunity to elect a progressive.<\/p>\n Milo Hohmann, 22, of Holladay, said state Sen. Nate Blouin<\/a> is the \u201cfirebrand\u201d that Utah needs in Congress. <\/p>\n Perhaps the most vocal Democrat in the Republican-led state legislature, Blouin has racked up endorsements from some of the country’s most prominent progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Greg Casar and Maxwell Frost.<\/p>\n Blouin said he aims to energize an electorate that has grown accustomed to settling for someone who will \u201cplay nice” with Republicans.<\/p>\n He jabbed at McAdams\u2019 voting record while defending himself against criticisms that he has never passed legislation. Blouin said he’s been effectively blacklisted by Republican legislative leaders, and at least two bills that he originally sponsored passed after they advanced under other lawmakers’ names.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t measure progress by how many times you can get pats on the back from Republicans,\u201d he told the AP.<\/p>\n His stance resonated with Hohmann, a transportation engineer, who said Utah has \u201can electric moment\u201d to elect a Democrat who won’t compromise their values.<\/p>\n Hannah Paisley Zoulek, 19, of Millcreek, said she\u2019s leaning toward Blouin or his colleague in the state Senate, former teacher Kathleen Riebe. But she had a concern about Blouin.<\/p>\n \u201cI struggle a bit with Senator Blouin\u2019s emphasis on how hard he holds his own positions,” Zoulek said. “It\u2019s great if you want to make a statement, but not necessarily if you want to do the work.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither Hohmann nor Zoulek thought McAdams was the right fit for the new district given his more moderate past.<\/p>\n Ben Iverson, who will be voting for the first time this year, disagrees.<\/p>\n The 17-year-old from Cottonwood Heights considers himself very progressive and said he thinks McAdams is “a great option.\u201d He noted that McAdams voted to impeach Trump in 2019, despite knowing it could cost him reelection.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think left-wing voters want a moderate Democrat who will capitulate to the right,” Iverson said, adding that he thinks McAdams has successfully shed the moderate label. <\/p>\n Throughout his life, Iverson said McAdams has been a mainstay of local politics. He was Salt Lake County\u2019s state senator, then its mayor<\/a>, and represented much of the area in his previous congressional district. <\/p>\n \u201cI’ve been in the trenches, rolling up my sleeves, saying not \u2018How do we pass a bill that will never become law?\u2019 but ‘How do we actually enact legislation that will make people’s lives better?’\u201d McAdams said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n