Riley Owen
About
Riley Owen, 27, is the Republican nominee for U.S. House Utah District 1 in the 2026 election. A Salt Lake City resident and descendant of Utah pioneers, he is a Navy Reserve intelligence officer, former White House policy analyst focused on trade, manufacturing, and industrial policy, and CEO of Doers Network. He earned degrees from Princeton University and the University of Oxford and previously served an LDS mission in Denmark.
Where they stand
Coverage
A 28-year-old Republican outlines the GOP’s post-Trump future in a district Harris won by 24 points
President Donald Trump's approval rating among likely voters hit a new low last week of 36%. GOP nominee Riley Owen says Republicans can win them back with focus on American Dream. The share of Americans married and homeowners by 30 has plummeted from 52% to 12%.
First Congressional District: Ben McAdams faces off against Riley Owen and three other challengers
In the 2026 race for Utah’s 1st Congressional District race, Ben McAdams is taking on Riley Owen, Jesse West, Elias Montgomery and Bobby Darvish. Read The Salt Lake Tribune’s voter guide here.
McAdams and Owen Agree on AI Guardrails in 1st District Debate
Democrat Ben McAdams and Republican Riley Owen expressed agreement on federal artificial intelligence regulation and data center water requirements during their first debate for Utah's 1st Congressional District. The debate, held on Sept. 29 at Salt Lake Community College, also addressed the Great Salt Lake and Social Security.
Ben McAdams and Riley Owen meet for CD1 debate
Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah and Rep. Riley Owen, R-Utah met at the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) to debate as the Democratic and Republican candidates for the newly redrawn Congressional District 1. McAdams and Owen, the only two candidates who met the 10% polling threshold set by the Utah Debate Commission, debated several topics,...
McAdams And Owen Debate Over Congressional Seat
(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Former Democratic Congressman Ben McAdams and Republican Riley Owen debated last night as they both seek to represent Utah's First Congressional District in Salt Lake City. They disagreed about gerrymandering and tariffs, but found common ground on some other issues.
Debate for Utah's newest congressional district found middle ground between moderates
Ben McAdams, a Democrat, and Riley Owen, a Republican are competing for Utah's 1st Congressional District seat in Salt Lake County. Ben McAdams, who won a crowded primary for the Democratic nomination by far, is facing Riley Owen, a Republican, naval officer and former White House staffer, to represent a new blue-leaning district in Utah.
Utah midterm elections: McAdams debates Owen
Ben McAdams and Riley Owen face off in the first debate ahead of the midterm elections. The debate is the first organized by the Utah debate commission before the general elections. Here are the details.
Utah 1st Congressional District debate found middle ground among two moderates
Ben McAdams, who won a crowded primary for the Democratic nomination by far, is facing Riley Owen, a Republican, naval officer and former White House staffer, to represent a new blue-leaning district in Utah. The two met onstage Tuesday for a debate put on by the Utah Debate Commission.
KSL Truth Test: Fact-checking debate claims in Utah's 1st Congressional District
Democrat Ben McAdams and Republican Riley Owen faced off in a debate Tuesday hosted by the Utah Debate Commission at Salt Lake Community College. Both candidates made their pitch to Utah voters ahead of Election Day on Nov. But did their claims of fact hold up to the KSL Truth Test?
McAdams-Owen square off in 1st Congressional District debate
With just over a month until Election Day, the candidates running for Utah's 1st Congressional District will meet in a debate Tuesday evening. The debate will feature Democrat Ben McAdams and Republican Riley Owen, each battling for a House seat in the first election since redistricting changed the face of Utah's political makeup.
Lots of common ground, but some big disagreements in Utah's 1st Congressional District debate
Riley Owen and Ben McAdams had a lot to agree on in the televised debate for who should represent Utah's new First Congressional District. Owen, who touted himself as a Gen Z Republican, faced McAdams, who has previously been Utah's lone Democratic congressman, in a debate Monday before a crowd of hundreds at Salt Lake Community College.
Utah's congressional debates kick off with CD1: Ben McAdams and Riley Owen
Tuesday evening, the debate is organized by the Utah Debate Commission, and Salt Lake Community College is hosting it. Former Rep. Ben McAdams qualified for the Democratic nomination following June’s primary, after the delegates at the Democratic Convention put their support behind newcomer Liban Mohamed in April.
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