Riley Owen Wins Republican Nomination for Utah's New 1st Congressional District

Riley Owen, 27, will be the Republican nominee for Utah's newly created 1st Congressional District after winning 71.2% of delegate votes at the state GOP convention in Orem on Saturday.

Owen defeated convention-only candidates Dave Robinson and Stone Fonua, who failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the primary. Since no Republican primary challenger remains, Owen advances directly to the November general election.

The 1st District covers the northern two-thirds of Salt Lake County and leans Democratic — Kamala Harris carried the area in the 2024 presidential election. That makes Owen's path to Congress challenging, but not impossible in a midterm environment that could favor Republicans nationally.

Owen, a relative political newcomer, campaigned on economic opportunity, housing affordability, and government accountability. His youth and convention landslide suggest strong grassroots organization, but he'll need to broaden his appeal beyond the party faithful to compete in a district that has trended blue.

Utah gained the new 1st District after the 2030 Census reapportionment, making it one of the freshest battlegrounds in the country. The Democratic nominee has not yet been determined.

**What This Means For You:** If you live in northern Salt Lake County, you'll have a brand-new congressional representative after November. Pay attention to whether Owen moderates his positions for a general electorate — that'll tell you whether this seat stays competitive or leans safely Democratic.