TAYLORSVILLE, UTAH — The Utah Democratic Party will hold an open primary on June 23 in Taylorsville for the newly formed 1st congressional district, where former U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams faces six opponents. The primary allows any district residents to vote regardless of party affiliation.

Utah's new 1st congressional district was created following a years-long legal battle over the state's congressional map. The district includes all of Salt Lake City and much of its suburbs, creating what analysts consider a deep blue congressional district where the winner of the Democratic primary is likely to win the November general election.

McAdams, who represented Utah's former 4th congressional district for one term after defeating a Republican incumbent in 2018, lost his bid for reelection. During his single term representing constituents in the southwest Salt Lake Valley and parts of Utah County, one analysis ranked McAdams as the most conservative Democrat in the U.S. House.

The former representative once described himself as pro-life and voted against a federal minimum wage increase. McAdams pledged support for abortion rights and for raising the minimum wage during a recent forum for young voters.

"What makes me a strong candidate is the fact that I've actually delivered on a lot of things people are talking about," McAdams said. "It'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."

Some congressional candidates in the new Utah district are positioning themselves to the left, and the outcome could influence which party controls the U.S. House after the midterm elections. State Sen. Nate Blouin, one of the most vocal Democrats in the Republican-led Utah state legislature, has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Greg Casar, and Maxwell Frost.

Blouin said he has been effectively blacklisted by Republican legislative leaders and that at least two bills he originally sponsored passed after being advanced under other lawmakers' names. "I don't measure progress by how many times you can get pats on the back from Republicans," Blouin said.

Robert Axson, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, offered a different assessment. "Everything I am seeing shows the younger generation continuing to lead in the promotion of our conservative principles," Axson 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."

McAdams previously served as a state senator for Salt Lake County and as mayor of Salt Lake County. State party leaders said registered Democrats hold a sufficient majority in the district to determine the outcome of the Democratic primary.