Rep. McAdams concedes to Burgess Owens in Utah’s 4th District race

SALT LAKE CITY– After a close congressional race, Democratic incumbent, Rep. Ben McAdams has conceded to his Republican opponent Burgess Owens in the race for Utah’s 4th Congressional District.

McAdams announced his concession in a live video stream on Monday. 

 

McAdams, who is Utah’s only Democrat in Congress and only served one term, will be replaced by Owens, a former NFL player who is brand new to politics. Owens will be the second Black Republican to represent Utah on Capitol Hill. The first was Mia Love.

Since Election Day on Nov. 3, the 4th District race has been too close to call, with either candidate leading the count by a mere 18 votes at one point. However, after a large dump of results from Salt Lake County on Friday, Nov. 13, Owens secured a steady lead over McAdams. 

As of Monday afternoon, Owens currently leads McAdams by 0.57%. Owens has received 177,170 votes to McAdams’ 175,0314, with 2,095 separating the two. 

Election results show Owens out preformed McAdams in every county that makes up Utah’s 4th District, except Salt Lake County. The 4th District represents voters in Juab, Salt Lake, Sanpete and Utah counties.  

Considered one of the most competitive races in the nation this election, all eyes were on Utah’s 4th District to see if Democrats would hold a strong majority in the U.S. House. More than $22 million was spent on the race, making it the most expensive political race in Utah’s history. 

With 11 Congressional races left to call, NBC News projects Democrats will maintain control of the House but with less og a majority 

In the 2018 midterm election, McAdams beat two-term Republican Mia Love, Utah’s first Black woman to serve in Congress by less than 700 votes.