Women taking over the ballot for the 2nd Congressional District special election
Jul 11, 2023, 8:00 PM
Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, speaks during Senate media availability on day one of the 2023 Legislature at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Riebe is one of four women vying to replace Rep. Chris Stewart in the 2nd Congressional District. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The race for the 2nd Congressional District seat is picking up momentum. And it’s filled with women.
Since Utah became a state in 1896, only four women have been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. There are four women on the ballot for the upcoming special election.
The four candidates are Republicans Celeste Maloy and Becky Edwards, Democrat Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, and United Utah party nominee January Walker.
KSL NewsRadio’s Taylor Morgan said, “Women are the majority of the registered members of both political parties. Republicans are about 56 percent of active registered Republicans are women.”
The race is shaping up to potentially be a historic one for the state.
4 women vying to replace Rep. Stewart in 2nd Congressional District
“Have we ever had four female candidates run for one congressional seat?” KSL NewRadio’s Debbie Dujanovic asked. “I can’t remember a time.”
Erin Rider, who ran for congress against Rep. Chris Stewart in 2022, is asked if women feel like they have to ask for permission even today.
“That’s an interesting question,” Rider said. “I think it maybe depends on the women. I didn’t necessarily feel like I needed to ask permission, and I didn’t ask anybody if I could run. But I know there’s a definitely a dynamic where a lot of people feel like they need, a lot of women feel like they need to be pushed to run.”
Rider says women play a critical role in the success of the state.
“But the truth is women are natural leaders in our communities all across the state,” she said. “They run these communities, school boards, community organizing efforts, church efforts. All sort of things women are in pretty serious leadership roles.”
Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
Read more:
- Celeste Maloy voting records show Republican affiliation when she filed congressional candidacy
- Becky Edwards announces her intent to run to represent Utah’s 2nd Congressional District
- State Sen. Kathleen Riebe wins Democratic nomination in bid to replace Chris Stewart
- Third-party candidate now vying for Rep. Chris Stewart’s seat
