State Sen. Kathleen Riebe wins Democratic nomination in bid to replace Chris Stewart

SALT LAKE CITY — State Sen. Kathleen Riebe late Wednesday won the Democratic nomination to be the party’s candidate for the 2nd Congressional District’s upcoming special election to replace retiring Rep. Chris Stewart.

Democratic delegates used a ranked-choice election to choose their party’s nominee. Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, won 85.56% of the votes, cementing her position in the race to replace Stewart, who announced his resignation on May 31 citing his wife’s health concerns.

Riebe ousted technology executive Guy Warner, who received 12.67% of delegates’ votes, and former congressional candidate Archie Williams III, who received 1.76%.

Riebe will be running, among others, against Stewart’s chief legal staffer Celeste Maloy, who received the Utah Republican Party’s nomination last week.

“I’m honored to accept the Democratic nomination for Utah’s 2nd District. Now the work begins. I’m looking forward to a campaign focused on Utah families, workers and all those who are more interested in building for a brighter future than clashing over political parties and issues designed to divide us,” Riebe said in a statement after the nomination.

Utah Democratic Party Chairwoman Diane Lewis congratulated Riebe on securing the nomination and said the party is undivided in its support of her, seemingly referring to some Republican leaders who on Wednesday questioned Maloy’s eligibility as the party’s candidate.

“Unlike the Republican party, we are emerging from our convention united behind our nominee and ready to hit the ground running in the general election. Between now and November, we’re going to talk to voters across the district about the stark contrast between Senator Riebe’s commonsense approach to public service and the Republicans’ extreme agenda,” Lewis said.