Author: Jesse

Utah Democrats may be on the brink of an unexpected political realignment after a progressive newcomer pulled off a convention upset that has reshaped a closely watched House race.

Progressive first-time candidate Liban Mohamed narrowly won Utah Democrats’ convention endorsement Saturday in the state’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, defeating establishment favorite Ben McAdams, an outcome that has energized the party’s left flank.

Newsweek reached out to Mohamed via email for comment. 

Some Democrats have framed this result as a potential turning point, with Angel Vice, chair of the Utah Democratic Party Women’s Caucus, telling the Deseret News after the vote that her party now has an opportunity for a “Mamdani moment.”

Democrats use this term to describe a scenario in which energized progressive voters upend expectations and reshape a race once thought predictable, a reference to recent progressive breakthroughs in New York’s mayoral politics.

Mohamed’s upset has intensified national attention on a rare Democratic pickup opportunity in Utah and raised fresh questions about whether the party’s center of gravity is shifting left. The result reshapes a competitive Democratic primary and fuels speculation that in the Beehive State—long viewed as politically stable—may be entering a more volatile and ideologically dynamic era.

This race looks very different from what it was just a few years ago. Utah’s 1st Congressional District is newly configured after a court-approved redistricting process placed Salt Lake City entirely within a single compact district for the first time since 2000.

The change matters because concentrating the state’s most Democratic city into one seat has transformed what was once a safely Republican district into one Democrats now see as winnable, attracting national attention and early investment that would have been unlikely under the old map.

Why It Matters

Mohamed’s victory signals the growing influence of the party’s progressive wing in a state where moderation has historically been rewarded. 

It also lands as Democrats see new structural and demographic openings created by redistricting and shifting voter behavior.

A Convention Upset Few Expected

At Utah’s Democratic Party convention in Sandy on Saturday, Mohamed, who has been endorsed by Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, secured 51.18 percent of delegate votes, edging out former Salt Lake County mayor and ex-congressman Ben McAdams, who finished with 48.5 percent.

The result surprised many party insiders. Just weeks earlier, McAdams had been widely viewed as the frontrunner, buoyed by strong name recognition, fundraising strength and favorable polling among moderate voters.

Speaking after the vote, Mohamed framed the outcome as part of a broader movement rather than a personal breakthrough. 

“It’s progressives’ time to lead. It’s the working class’ time to lead,” he told reporters, calling the convention endorsement “just the beginning” as support continues to grow.

What Prediction Markets And Ratings Say

Despite the primary uncertainty, outside indicators suggest Democrats are well-positioned heading into November.

On Kalshi, a regulated U.S. prediction market, traders currently assign an 88 percent chance that a Democrat will win Utah’s 1st Congressional District. The market resolves based on which party’s candidate is sworn into Congress in 2027, with outcomes verified by official Library of Congress records.

Prediction markets differ from traditional polling in that they aggregate real-money wagers rather than survey responses, which can make them sensitive to elite expectations and breaking news. 

Still, low trading volume and sudden sentiment swings can exaggerate confidence levels.

Traditional analysts are similarly bullish. The Cook Political Report rates the seat Solid Democratic, citing the district’s newly compact shape centered on Salt Lake City following redistricting.

Why the Upset Was So Striking

Mohamed’s convention win looks even more dramatic when set against earlier polling.

A survey conducted March 23-26, 2026, among 381 likely Democratic primary voters by Democratic firm Data for Progress showed McAdams leading the field with 36 percent support. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

Mohamed, then a little-known first-time candidate, carried a net favorability of just +12, with 80 percent of respondents saying they did not know enough about him to form an opinion.

Delegates, however, told a different story, suggesting organizational strength, activist enthusiasm and in-person campaigning outweighed early name recognition and polling advantages.

Utah’s Democratic primary is open, allowing unaffiliated voters to participate, a system that has historically favored moderate candidates. 

The convention result raises new questions about whether that dynamic still holds.

Progressive Energy Versus Establishment Caution

The convention exposed a party energized but divided over strategy.

Mohamed was among several candidates offering unapologetically progressive messages, including calls for universal healthcare, the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the end of U.S. aid to Israel. Those proposals drew some of the loudest applause of the day.

More centrist Democrats urged restraint. State Senator Kathleen Riebe, who endorsed McAdams, argued for a nominee capable of lowering political temperature and building coalitions. McAdams rejected the idea that progressivism and pragmatism are mutually exclusive. 

“Progressive has to mean making progress,” he said, emphasizing his focus on coalition-building while standing firm on core values.

Why Trump and Religion Loom Over the Race

Utah’s political volatility cannot be separated from religion.

Over the past two decades, Latter‑day Saints have shifted away from the Republican Party—and from President Donald Trump in particular—more than any other major religious group except atheists, according to analyses of Cooperative Election Study data by YouGov.

Trump’s rhetoric and conduct have created lasting friction with voters who once anchored Utah’s Republican dominance. Combined with redistricting and demographic shifts around Salt Lake City, that erosion has widened the path for Democrats, particularly candidates capable of mobilizing younger and more diverse voters.

What Comes Next

McAdams, Nate Blouin and Michael Farrell will all appear on the June 23 Democratic primary ballot alongside Mohamed because they secured the necessary signatures to qualify, despite not having won at the convention. 

The winner will face Republican Riley Owen in November, competing in a district far less hospitable to the GOP than it was under previous maps.

Whether Utah is experiencing a lasting progressive realignment or a moment shaped by redistricting and activist energy will become clearer after the primary. For now, Democrats are confronting a reality their polling missed: the voters they thought they understood may no longer behave the way the models predict.

LOGAN (KSL.com) — There may never been another football player like Bobby Wagner, and Utah State will make the former Aggie star one-of-one in at least one regard soon.

The Aggies announced Monday that the 14-year NFL linebacker and member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team from 2010-20 will have his number retired during a halftime ceremony in either the 2026 or 2027 season. The specific date of the game will be determined based on Wagner’s availability.

Wagner will be just the third player in program history to have his number retired, and the first since Merlin Olsen’s No. 71 and Elmer “Bear” Ward’s No. 35 were inducted into the special honor.

“Bobby exemplifies what it means to be an Aggie, and this honor is long overdue,” Utah State athletic director Cameron Walker said in a statement. “We are excited to recognize his achievements in a Utah State uniform and all he has accomplished in the NFL and in his community.

“Retiring his number and displaying it on the side of our press box for current and future Aggies to see is a well-deserved honor to celebrate an amazing football career and a remarkable person.”

Bobby Wagner an Aggie all-time great

Wagner earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors three times and led the Aggies in tackles for three seasons, starting 46 of his 48 career games and totaling 446 tackles — which is still tied for the most in school history. He also had 29.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble to go with 23 double-digit tackle performances in his career.

“I’m truly honored to have my number retired,” Wagner said in a statement. “This is something I could have never imagined. Utah State took a chance on me. They were my only offer and the only school that truly believed in me. They gave me more than just an opportunity to play football. They helped me build a career and provided stability during a difficult time in my life. The coaches, professors, staff, and students all played a role in shaping who I am today. I’ll forever be grateful. Go Aggies!”

His 2,000 career tackles ranks third in NFL history, and he’s just 60 tackles shy of the most tackles in NFL history. He’s currently a free agent after playing the past two seasons on one-year contracts with the Washington Commanders.

Even at 35 years old, Wagner is still going strong. He graded out at 990.3 last season by Pro Football Focus, which cited him for just eight missed tackles on the season. The 6-foot, 242-pound linebacker made 162 tackles including 79 solo stops and 4.5 sacks last year with the Commanders, to go along with two interceptions and four passes defended while playing for his third NFL team.

Wagner was named the Art Rooney Award winner in 2023, recognizing a player for outstanding sportsmanship, and earned Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honors in 2025, honoring a players’ commitment to philanthropy and community impact. He’s also a minority owner in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.

The Aggies inducted Wagner into the school’s athletics hall of fame in 2021.

The post Utah State will retire Bobby Wagner’s jersey. Here’s what we know appeared first on East Idaho News.

April 28, 2026, 6:36 a.m. ET

SALT LAKE CITY — John Tortorella’s Monday morning media availability, ahead of Game 4 between his Vegas Golden Knights and the Utah Mammoth, barely lasted more than a minute.

The veteran coach wasn’t in the mood to talk, other than to say his team would be ready to play. He answered three questions with nothing more than, “We’re ready to play.”

And he was right, at least for the first half of the game.

The Golden Knights came flying out of the starting blocks, shredding the Mammoth with an unrelenting forecheck and scoring three straight goals to open the game. Utah stormed back with four straight goals of its own to force overtime, then Shea Theodore won it for Vegas 5-4 with less than a minute left in overtime to tie the series 2-2.

Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring on his first shift of the game. Jack Eichel made a strong play behind the net, absorbing a hit from Utah’s MacKenzie Weegar before finding Ivan Barbashev in the low slot. Barbashev bumped the puck across to Dorofeyev, who crushed it into the wide-open net for his first goal of the series. It was the fourth point of the series for both Barbashev and Eichel, which leads Vegas.

Utah winger Michael Carcone had a golden opportunity to tie the game early on the power play, but sailed his shot over the crossbar. The puck was bouncing in the slot when Lawson Crouse made a great play to dive and knock the puck across to Carcone, who had a wide-open net to shoot at.

Brett Howden extended Vegas’ lead to two with a shorthanded goal late in the first period. Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka hesitated to move the puck and eventually flipped it to the half wall, where it was collected by Vegas forward Mitch Marner. Marner found Howden all alone in front, and he finished the play with a deke around the goaltender.

The Golden Knights controlled the opening frame, pressuring the Mammoth and living in the offensive zone. They allowed only three shots, and took a two-goal lead into the intermission.

Vegas extended its lead to three goals early in the second period, when fourth-line winger Cole Smith scored the first playoff goal of his career. As most of Vegas’ offense did on Monday, it started with a turnover forced on the forecheck. Noah Hanifin shot it from the point, and the puck was sailing well wide of the Utah net before Smith reached out and redirected it past Vejmelka.

The Mammoth eventually found their game midway through the second period and pulled within a goal thanks to back-to-back goals by Nick Schmaltz and Ian Cole. Schmaltz’s goal was a great individual effort, batting a rebound out of the air past Vegas goalie Carter Hart. Only 29 seconds later, Cole made it 3-2 with a shot from the point that beat Hart’s glove, went off the post and into the net.

As the game wore on, Utah’s speed started to show more and more. This game followed a similar pattern to the last two, with the Golden Knights needing far more time with the puck to generate offense than the Mammoth. Vegas holds the puck in the offensive zone for shift after shift, but creates very little with it. Then Utah scores in the blink of an eye going the other direction.

Utah opened the third period with two goals to take a 4-3 lead. The first was a blistering one-timer by Carcone, who redeemed his miss earlier in the game with a shot from a bad angle that beat Hart on the short side. The second was a goal credited to Clayton Keller, who sent a centering pass in front of the Vegas net. It bounced off the traffic in front to give the Mammoth their first lead of the night.

The Golden Knights answered, though: Howden scored his second of the game with a gorgeous tip on a shot from Hanifin to tie it 4-4 midway through the final period.

For a moment, it appeared Dorofeyev won it for the Golden Knights 10 minutes into overtime, putting a rebound over the line, but after a review the officials determined Jack Eichel entered the zone offside, so the goal was overturned.

Theodore won it for Vegas with only 51 seconds left in overtime, one-timing a puck past Vejmelka from the slot.

Dorofeyev ends drought

Tortorella had been searching for a place for Dorofeyev, and he found it Monday night beside Eichel on the Golden Knights’ top line — at least for the start.

The 25-year-old winger, who led Vegas with 37 goals in the regular season, had gone 10 straight playoff games without a goal entering Game 4, and hadn’t scored at even strength in 13 postseason games dating back to 2024.

Dorofeyev started Game 3 on Friday with Mitch Marner and Brett Howden on Vegas’ second line, but Tortorella moved him around throughout the game. At one point, he moved Dorofeyev down to the third line with Tomas Hertl, before eventually bumping him all the way down to the fourth, checking line near the end of the game. Interestingly enough, that’s where Dorofeyev earned his best scoring chances of the series to that point, which was enough to give Tortorella the confidence to put him on the top line beside Eichel to begin Game 4.

The fit makes sense. Barbashev is great on the forecheck and at winning possession along the boards. Eichel is the Golden Knights’ best playmaker and hasn’t looked to shoot very often in these playoffs, so giving him the team’s best finisher is a natural fit. It didn’t take long for the move to pay off. They scored on their first shift of the game, with all three players factoring on the goal.

The trio didn’t last, though. Dorofeyev turned the puck over in the defensive zone, leading directly to Utah’s first goal, and spent a lot of the second period on the bench. He eventually found his way back onto Hertl’s line in the third period.

Schmaltz finds his game

As well as the Mammoth have played in this series, their top-line center hadn’t done much coming into Friday’s game. That changed in a big way, as Schmaltz was all around the front of the Vegas net and registered two massive points.

Schmaltz willed Utah onto the scoreboard midway through the second period, fighting his way through Vegas defenders to establish position next to the net. He pounced on a rebound, batted it into the net and started the comeback.

Less than two minutes into the third period, Schmaltz assisted on Keller’s goal to give Utah a 4-3 lead. He gave Utah a much-needed boost.

Goaltending troubles on both ends of the ice

Vejmelka had been playing really well for Utah through the first three games of the series, but his postseason save percentage plummeted below .900 after allowing five goals on 33 shots on Friday night.

The big Czech goalie made some big stops throughout the night, but just wasn’t as sharp as he had been prior to Game 4. It just appeared his timing was slightly off, as pucks that he had been absorbing were hitting his chest and bouncing perilously into the slot. Vejmelka was sliding around, outside of his posts more than usual for a sound positional goalie of his caliber.

That being said, Vejmelka stood on his head early in overtime. Mark Stone had a chance from point-blank range on the power play, and Vejmelka robbed him by kicking out the pad.

On the other end, Hart continues to struggle for the Golden Knights. Part of the reason Utah has matched or exceeded Vegas’ offense in this series without having nearly as much possession is Hart’s inability to come up with big saves.

A couple of Utah’s goals were strange bounces in front, but the Carcone goal came from outside the dots, with no traffic, and beat Hart’s glove hand clean. It’s not the first time the Mammoth have beaten Hart’s gloves in this series. It will be interesting to see how long Tortorella, who has expressed nothing but the strongest confidence in Hart, will stick with his former Flyers goalie with Adin Hill on the bench. Hill had an awful 2025-26 regular season, but he backstopped Vegas to the Cup in 2023 and has a .917 career save percentage in the playoffs.

This story will be updated.

These resources will help the program deliver the highest quality fertility care to patients while giving students, residents, and fellows experience that prepares them for advanced practice in reproductive medicine.

Looking ahead, IVI RMA North America plans to build a new, state-of-the-art fertility laboratory in 2028, which will serve as a premier laboratory for future REIs in fellowship at the University of Utah. IVI RMA North America brings decades of experience in clinic and lab operations.

“Affiliating with University of Utah Health and its renowned reproductive medicine division represents an exciting step forward in advancing fertility care and training new cohorts of REIs that will sustain and strengthen the field,” said Lynn Mason, CEO of IVI RMA North America. “We share a deep commitment to high-quality, innovative care. Together, we are providing fellows and students with real-world laboratory experiences, advanced clinical training, and mentorship that will prepare them to deliver exceptional care and shape the future of this field.”

As part of the affiliation, University of Utah fellows will have the opportunity to train directly with IVI RMA North America and the company’s board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians, who have deep knowledge of Utah and the mountain states communities. They will also gain access to the expansive resources of IVI RMA Global, the world’s largest company exclusively devoted to assisted reproduction technology, and its renowned IVI RMA Global Research Alliance, a world leader in scientific research and technology development in reproductive medicine.

“Training reproductive endocrinologists is at the heart of our mission—and this relationship with IVI RMA North America takes that commitment to a new level,” said Erica Johnstone, M.D., Fellowship Director at the University of Utah. “IVI RMA’s leadership and reputation for innovation in fertility care means our students and fellows will gain valuable industry experience so they are ready to deliver excellent, evidence-based care from the moment they graduate.”

“The affiliation with University of Utah Health underscores IVI RMA North America’s goal of forging relationships to advance both patient care and physician training,” said Thomas Molinaro, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at IVI RMA North America. “Our investments into shared research, innovation, and clinical excellence translate directly into better doctors, stronger fertility programs, and broader access for families.”

For three games now, the Utah Mammoth have done more than survive against a heavyweight contender — they have gone stride for stride with one of the NHL’s most decorated rosters and, at times, looked like the better team.

Vegas arrived in this series carrying the aura of a championship-caliber franchise and a lineup packed with proven names. Jack Eichel centered Team USA’s top line in the Olympic final just two months ago. Mark Stone and Mitch Marner skated for Team Canada. Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin logged major international minutes on the blue line. On paper, few teams looked more formidable entering the postseason.

Yet it has been Utah’s younger, less celebrated core that has dictated large stretches of this matchup.

The Mammoth seized control of the series Friday night with a convincing 4-2 win in front of a thunderous home crowd witnessing its first Stanley Cup Playoff game. With the victory, Utah moved ahead 2-1 in the series and delivered another statement against an opponent many expected to control the matchup.

It had been four years since MacKenzie Weegar played in a home playoff game, and he wasted little time making up for it. Early in the opening period, the veteran defenseman blasted a slapshot that ricocheted off Carter Hart’s mask and into the net, igniting the arena and handing Utah an immediate surge.

The atmosphere only intensified from there.

Dylan Guenther, still just 23, delivered the night’s most electric finish with another blistering strike. After scoring 40 goals in the regular season, the winger has seamlessly carried that scoring touch into the playoffs, producing dangerous chances and timely goals in consecutive games.

For a player making his postseason debut, Guenther has looked remarkably composed. He recorded Utah’s first multi-point playoff outing in Game 2, then followed it with the franchise’s first playoff power-play goal in Game 3.

Utah’s veteran leadership also answered the moment. Lawson Crouse scored twice, while captain Clayton Keller orchestrated the attack with two assists and constant pressure. For a franchise still building its identity, those were foundational performances from cornerstone players.

Utah stormed to a 4-0 lead with two goals in the first period and two more in the second, stunning a Vegas club accustomed to controlling games of this magnitude.

The Golden Knights pushed back over the final half of the contest, scoring twice and piling up shots in an effort to tilt momentum. Vegas finished with a 32-12 edge in shots on goal, but the numbers did not tell the full story. Utah was sharper, more opportunistic, and far more dangerous with the chances it created.

That distinction mattered.

The Mammoth defended with commitment, blocked lanes, won battles, and made their opportunities count. It was less about volume and more about execution.

There will be those who frame this as a temporary swing — a hot shooting night, an emotional crowd, a brief surge that will fade as the series continues.

But three games in, that explanation is getting harder to sell.

Utah’s top players are creating offense. Its veterans are steadying tense moments. Its young talent looks unfazed by the stage. And its belief appears to be growing by the shift.

Head coach André Tourigny pointed afterward to the international experience many of his young players already possess. Guenther has delivered on big stages before. Logan Cooley helped Team USA capture gold at the World Championships. Keller represented his country at the Olympics. The names may be young, but the moments are not new to them.

Friday night felt significant not simply because Utah won, but because of how it won.

This did not look like a franchise happy to be invited to the postseason. It looked like one prepared to stay.

Three Utah football standouts took one step closer to having their dreams of playing professional football come to fruition over the weekend as the 2026 NFL Draft played out from Pittsburgh.

On Thursday, offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu heard their names called by commissioner Roger Goodell, with the former going No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns and the latter getting picked up by the New England Patriots at No. 28 overall.

Nearly 48 hours after his teammates made history as the first Utes to be drafted in the same first round in program history, Dallen Bentley helped put a bow on the three-day event as the Denver Broncos selected him with the penultimate pick (No. 256 overall) on Saturday.

With their departures from Utah official, let’s take a look at the impact of each, starting from the least to most significant.

3. Dallen Bentley (TE)

Bentley was basically Utah’s No. 2 receiving option in 2025, as he hauled in 48 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 Snow College product also played a role as an extra blocker in the Utes’ dominant run game, which finished No. 2 in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 266.3 rush yards per game and 41 rushing touchdowns in 13 games.

That being said, Utah has a potential star in the making in rising sophomore Hunter Andrews, who was on track for a big freshman year until an injury in September derailed his 2025 campaign. The former three-star recruit isn’t the same type of tight end as Bentley — he’s much more of an H-back than anything else — though his versatility and route running will make him an essential part of the Utes’ passing game in 2026.

Speaking of which, Utah shouldn’t be as limited at wide receiver as it was in 2025. The presence of Braden Pegan and Kyri Shoels should open things up for the Utes’ other pass catchers.

2. Caleb Lomu (LT)

Losing a starting left tackle who was an all-conference player as a redshirt sophomore is going to sting — even if his replacement ends up being a first-round pick in a few years.

The Utes hope blue chip 2026 recruit Kelvin Obot is the next pro-caliber offensive lineman to come through the program’s doors, though only time will tell if the Idaho native reaches his full potential. For now, he’s a freshman with plenty to learn and absorb from his more-experienced teammates.

Of course, there’s a possibility Obot is a really good right off the bat, which would help relieve some of the sting from Lomu’s departure. Either way, though, the Utes aren’t plugging in another bonafide first-round talent at left tackle.

1. Spencer Fano (RT)

Surprise, surprise: The departure of a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy recipient (nation’s top offensive lineman award) shapes up to be Utah’s biggest offseason loss.

It’s not enough that Utah is losing someone who didn’t give up a sack in over 350 pass blocking opportunities last season; the Utes are saying goodbye to a program stalwart and someone who could’ve realistically played guard or center in Spencer Fano. That versatility is partly why the Cleveland Browns selected him with the No. 9 overall pick.

Utah has some experienced players who could step in and fill Fano’s vacancy; Zereoue Williams and Keith Olson stand out as potential candidates going into fall camp. But as is the case at left tackle, the Utes don’t have someone of Fano’s caliber to plug in and protect the right side of the O-line.

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