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U.S. House · UT-01 · Democratic candidate · 2026

Ben McAdams

Democratic candidate for Utah's 1st Congressional District

Ben McAdams is a former congressman, county mayor and attorney focused on affordable housing, reproductive freedom and protecting Utah’s public lands.

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Portrait of Ben McAdams
DistrictUT-01
OfficeCongress
ElectionNov. 3, 2026

Policy priorities

Where Ben stands.

Campaign position

More affordable housing supply

  • Supports more housing, easier first-time homebuying and reduced regulatory barriers that raise construction costs

Campaign position

Health coverage and prescription costs

  • Supports protecting health coverage and reducing medicine prices while putting patients ahead of insurers’ profits

Campaign position

Federal protection for reproductive freedom

  • Supports codifying Roe in federal law and protecting abortion decisions, contraception access and Planned Parenthood funding

Campaign position

Constitutional protections in immigration enforcement

  • Supports replacing indiscriminate ICE raids with constitutional safeguards and concentrating enforcement on genuine public safety threats

Campaign position

Public lands and lake restoration

  • Supports the Red Rock Wilderness Act, protection of Bears Ears and water conservation to restore the Great Salt Lake

Campaign position

Clean energy and modern infrastructure

  • Supports expanding domestic clean energy, upgrading the power grid and investing in transportation infrastructure that creates jobs

Record and background

Record & experience.

  1. 2008–2013

    Experience

    Salt Lake City senior adviser

    Advised Mayor Ralph Becker.

  2. 2013–2019

    Experience

    Salt Lake County mayor

    Led county government.

  3. 2019–2021

    Experience

    U.S. representative

    Represented Utah’s 4th District.

  4. Reported 2023

    Experience

    Common Ground Institute founder

    Founded the organization.

  5. Reported 2023

    Experience

    Common Ground Institute CEO

    Advised local governments.

  6. Reported 2023

    Experience

    Common Ground Impact Advisors founder

    Founded the organization.

  7. Reported 2023

    Experience

    Common Ground Impact Advisors CEO

    Advised mission-driven investors.

  8. Reported 2025

    Experience

    Putting Assets to Work CEO

    Led public-property advisory work.

  9. Reported 2025

    Experience

    National Housing Crisis Task Force member

    Served the housing task force.

  • Experience

    Farm worker

    Worked from childhood.

  • Experience

    Fast-food worker

    Held food-service jobs.

  • Experience

    Janitorial worker

    Worked in cleaning.

  • Experience

    Guitar repairer

    Repaired guitars.

  • Experience

    LDS missionary

    Served in Brazil.

  • Experience

    Davis Polk attorney

    Practiced securities law.

  • Experience

    Dorsey & Whitney attorney

    Practiced securities law.

  • Experience

    University of Utah adjunct professor

    Taught securities regulation.

  • Experience

    Utah state senator

    Served in the state legislature.

  • Experience

    Brookings nonresident senior fellow

    Served Brookings Metro.

  • Accomplishment

    Early childhood education expansion

    Helped launch Pay for Success, expanding preschool access in Salt Lake County.

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