Utah News

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) — For decades, Democrats’ only chance of getting elected to Congress from the conservative state of Utah was by convincing voters that they were sensible moderates, not like the zealous progressives from California or Colorado.

But the political landscape has changed, thanks to a redistricting shakeup that created a deep blue district anchored by Salt Lake City. Suddenly, congressional candidates are trying to outflank each other on the left in an unusual race that could help determine whether Democrats take back control of the U.S. House in the midterms.

Exhibit A is Ben McAdams, a former congressman who once described himself as pro-life and voted against a federal minimum wage increase. As he mounts a comeback campaign in a much more Democratic district, he pledged his support for abortion rights and raising the minimum wage during a recent forum for young voters.

As primary opponents criticized McAdams as the most conservative among them, he insisted that he’s only “moderate in tone.”

It’s a far different approach than McAdams used in 2018, when he ousted a Republican incumbent in the midterms of President Donald Trump’s first term. While representing the southwest Salt Lake Valley and parts of deep-red Utah County in the former 4th district, he was considered the most conservative House Democrat during his single term by one analysis, before losing reelection to a Republican.

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McAdams is now running in the new 1st district, including all of Salt Lake City and much of its suburbs, which emerged from a years-long legal battle over Utah’s congressional map.

Whoever wins the primary will likely win the November general election, and McAdams faces a half-dozen Democratic opponents.

“What makes me a strong candidate is the fact that I’ve actually delivered on a lot of things people are talking about,” McAdams told The Associated Press. “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.”

A potential foothold in a red state

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin views Utah’s 1st district as a foothold in a red state that could not only help the party win the House this year but set it up for long-term success. He said the party is pouring more money into Utah than ever before — at least $22,500 a month — to build infrastructure ahead of the 2030 census, when the fast-growing state could gain House seats.

The recipe for success, Martin said, is a willingness to meet voters where they’re at and a platform that reflects “not just the majority of Democrats, but the majority of the people in the district.”

Unlike state Republicans, the Democrats are holding an open primary on June 23, meaning anyone in the district can vote, regardless of party affiliation. That could benefit a candidate like McAdams, who built a broad base during his previous campaign. But state party leaders have said they’re confident that registered Democrats have a strong enough majority to decide the primary.

Democrats have historically struggled to gain solid footing in Utah, where about half the population belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the faith known widely as the Mormon church have always leaned Republican.

Even though the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, the capital is one of the only places where Democrats hold local control and religion takes a back seat in politics.

Martin expects the youth vote will be key to winning in Utah and building longevity there. Utah is the youngest state, with a median age of about 32.

“This is a group that’s up for grabs,” he told the AP, noting that Democrats too often assume young voters are with them. He said that could mean Utah “is one of the biggest potential swing states in the country.”

Robert Axson, chairman of the Utah Republican Party, rejected that notion.

“Everything I am seeing shows the younger generation continuing to lead in the promotion of our conservative principles,” he 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.”

Jockeying for the Gen Z vote

Several young voters who came to meet candidates on a Saturday morning in Taylorsville said they hoped to capitalize on the opportunity to elect a progressive.

Milo Hohmann, 22, of Holladay, said state Sen. Nate Blouin is the “firebrand” that Utah needs in Congress.

Perhaps the most vocal Democrat in the Republican-led state legislature, Blouin has racked up endorsements from some of the country’s most prominent progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Greg Casar and Maxwell Frost.

Blouin said he aims to energize an electorate that has grown accustomed to settling for someone who will “play nice” with Republicans.

He jabbed at McAdams’ voting record while defending himself against criticisms that he has never passed legislation. Blouin said he’s been effectively blacklisted by Republican legislative leaders, and at least two bills that he originally sponsored passed after they advanced under other lawmakers’ names.

“I don’t measure progress by how many times you can get pats on the back from Republicans,” he told the AP.

His stance resonated with Hohmann, a transportation engineer, who said Utah has “an electric moment” to elect a Democrat who won’t compromise their values.

Hannah Paisley Zoulek, 19, of Millcreek, said she’s leaning toward Blouin or his colleague in the state Senate, former teacher Kathleen Riebe. But she had a concern about Blouin.

“I struggle a bit with Senator Blouin’s emphasis on how hard he holds his own positions,” Zoulek said. “It’s great if you want to make a statement, but not necessarily if you want to do the work.”

Neither Hohmann nor Zoulek thought McAdams was the right fit for the new district given his more moderate past.

Ben Iverson, who will be voting for the first time this year, disagrees.

The 17-year-old from Cottonwood Heights considers himself very progressive and said he thinks McAdams is “a great option.” He noted that McAdams voted to impeach Trump in 2019, despite knowing it could cost him reelection.

“I don’t think left-wing voters want a moderate Democrat who will capitulate to the right,” Iverson said, adding that he thinks McAdams has successfully shed the moderate label.

Throughout his life, Iverson said McAdams has been a mainstay of local politics. He was Salt Lake County’s state senator, then its mayor, and represented much of the area in his previous congressional district.

“I’ve been in the trenches, rolling up my sleeves, saying not ‘How do we pass a bill that will never become law?’ but ‘How do we actually enact legislation that will make people’s lives better?’” McAdams said.

Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified Craig Smith as the current coach of Utah.

Utah State announced the hiring of longtime Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson on Monday, March 30, poaching the five-time NCAA Tournament attendee to replace Jerrod Calhoun.

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It’s a splash hire at the mid-major level, especially with how long Jacobson spent at Northern Iowa. He has four NCAA Tournament wins in his career, including a second-round upset over No. 1 seed Kansas in 2010.

Utah State is one of the best non-Power program jobs in college basketball, and Jacobson will lead the program into the rebuilt Pac-12 next season. There, he’ll be conference foes with Colorado State and coach Ali Farokhmanesh, his former player and March Madness hero from 2010.

REQUIRED READING: How Ali Farokhmanesh went from March Madness icon to Division I head coach

The Aggies have made six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, and its coaches have gone on to earn high-profile jobs shortly after their tenure. Calhoun took the opening at Cincinnati after Danny Sprinkle left for Washington, and Sprinkle’s predecessor, Ryan Odom, is now at Virginia. Craig Smith was the Aggies coach before Odom and took the Utah job. He was coach of the Utes for four seasons before being fired in 2025.

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“I’m thankful for the opportunity to join Utah State as it enters its next chapter in the Pac-12,” Jacobson said. “I’m grateful to Cameron Walker for trusting me to lead such a historic program and to continue its tradition as one of the top men’s basketball programs in the West. I look forward to getting to know Aggie Nation and the HURD, and for my family to become part of the Cache Valley and Logan community.”

Jacobson leads the Missouri Valley Conference in all-time wins (220) and conference tournament wins (24), but the allure of the new Pac-12 was likely too enticing to pass up, as the league will be anchored by powerhouse programs Gonzaga, San Diego State and Utah State, to a lesser degree.

Numerous college basketball coaches commented on the hire in Utah State’s announcement, including Purdue’s Matt Painter and Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg.

“Ben is not only an exceptional coach but also a truly remarkable person,” Painter said. “He has achieved tremendous success at Northern Iowa, and this opportunity at Utah State gives him the chance to build on that success both on the court and within the community. I’m excited for him and his family as they embark on this exciting new chapter in their lives.

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Hoiberg added: “Ben Jacobson is one of the great coaches in our sport, and Utah State is fortunate to land a coach of his caliber.  He built Northern Iowa into one of the top programs in the Missouri Valley Conference for the past two decades.

“When I was at Iowa State, we played his UNI teams several times over the years, and you always knew you would be in for a battle.  I have so much respect for the job he has done over the years.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah State poaches Ben Jacobson from Northern Iowa for coaching job

Not long ago, Pamela Atkinson came across a book she didn’t remember ordering and read it. The novel was titled “In His Steps.” Written over 100 years ago by Charles M. Sheldon, it is the fictional story of a group of people of faith who pledge to tackle every decision they face with the question “What would Jesus do?” and then act accordingly.

After reading it, Atkinson, who is probably Utah’s best-known — and most beloved and respected — advocate for the poor, the disenfranchised and the ill, felt a sense of urgency to apply the concept to life today.

She calls the moments she knows are a spiritual prompting a “holy nudge.” But this one felt like a more urgent “holy shove” because it dominated her thoughts and carried a sense of “hurry up.”

The hurry-up part is because Atkinson is 93 years old and has been quite frail, with bouts of illness recently. She told Deseret News she thinks this may be her final heaven-sent assignment.

She said she tries to always act on spiritual promptings. So Atkinson has gathered a group of policymakers and faith leaders to ponder what Jesus would do in this community and beyond — as well as how resulting goodness could spread to others in more far-reaching ripples. She wants to ensure the work that has filled her heart and busied her hands for decades doesn’t lose momentum or attention, because the challenges that beset folks never really go away.

The result is a roundtable discussion titled “A Conversation with Pamela Atkinson: What Would Jesus Do?” It centers not on the details of any faith, but on a discussion of how faith and its practitioners can make whole communities and individual lives much better. The goal is to get the collaboration and the caring that ensues to spread. The roundtable, which takes place this week, will be disseminated as part of the “Deseret Voices” podcast series, hosted by Jane Clayson Johnson.

Atkinson has selected a small but diverse group of participants. The invitation the panelists received asked them to be part of an “interfaith panel exploring Christian kindness, dignity and the power of faith to lift communities in times of joy and stress.”

The hourlong event, which Atkinson will host, includes Utah first lady Abby Cox; Sophia DiCaro, executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget; Michael Edwards, director of youth and young adults for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City; Rev. Corey Hodges, lead pastor of The Point Church; Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Rev. Jamie White, lead pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City (Atkinson’s longtime church). Sharon Eubank, who oversees global humanitarian efforts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is co-hosting.

Atkinson’s legacy

A homeless trust fund, health clinics and transitional housing all bear Atkinson’s name and honor her legacy, particularly the part that has eased the suffering and brought opportunities to people who are homeless or very close to it. Atkinson has advised a handful of governors and served on many boards, crafting policy that at its forefront focuses on what will bolster those who struggle. Most of that, she notes, has come from holy nudges and heaven-sent opportunities.

Atkinson told Deseret News she really does believe the ambition to bring a diverse group together based on the “what would Jesus do” premise is probably her final God-given assignment.

If it is her last project, it’s a good one, she said. “I’ve had a lot of ‘holy nudges’ from the Lord in terms of the work that I do, and even when I’ve been sick, he’s still done that because I can always help people by referring them to somebody else. I know the Lord’s using me right up to the end, and I know the end isn’t too far away.”

The roundtable is appropriate to this era of disagreement and dissension, she said. What would Jesus do?

Atkinson would like to see ideas on how to come together to solve community problems, lift up strugglers and be accountable for the tasks to emerge from this small Christian group. She sees the group as a committee of sorts — Christians that could easily over time expand to other faiths, because many faith traditions cherish and practice the common principles like kindness, care for the less fortunate and basic decency that were part of Christ’s ministry.

But this is where she wants to start. She said she has known and worked with each of the six panelists. She has worked with so many people, in fact, that her original proposed list of participants had to be whittled down.

Her wish? “I want people to look at their interactions. The other day I was talking to this person and I said, ‘You know, I don’t think I agree with you on this issue.’ And he clarified and I said, ‘I still disagree, but boy, I like you.’ We’ll remain friends. That’s what I want people to learn. It’ll have some similarities with the governor’s ‘Disagree Better’ initiative.”

As for legacy, Atkinson hopes people believe she “made a difference in the world with the Lord’s help.” She didn’t do it alone. “I want people to see my legacy as something they can build on and continue — that it’s very easy to help one another,” she said.

The key, she said, is to always ask people what they need, rather than telling them what they need. “Don’t discriminate because people are of a different socioeconomic class. And don’t give up on people.”

She yearns to know that others will build on any good that has already been done. She pointed out that anyone can be part of society’s solutions.

Atkinson herself grew up in extreme poverty in England, with a mother who worked very hard to support her children and a father who raced greyhounds, gambled money away and then left. She used education to escape poverty so intense that they lacked the indoor plumbing most of her peers took for granted. She became a nurse and later returned to school for a master’s degree in both sociology and business. By the time she retired, she was a vice president at Intermountain Health, where she oversaw humanitarian services.

But she didn’t really retire, continuing to serve on boards and acting as an adviser to Utah’s recent governors, among other contributions. And she continued, until recently, visiting “my homeless friends” and distributing dog food to those whose only companion was often a canine. She used the money she earned serving on boards to pay someone’s rent here and hospital bill there. It was her help-others fund.

Even now, she makes referrals for folks who need help that she can no longer provide directly.

Stepping up

When Deseret News contacted several of the panelists, it was clear that accepting Atkinson’s invitation was not just belief in the purpose but also joy at being asked by someone everyone seems to consider a friend.

Hodges, the Baptist minister, described Atkinson as a longtime friend with a “wonderful legacy of doing great community work. I wanted to participate and contribute to her legacy as well.”

He’s also interested in the perspective other faith groups will bring to the discussion. They’ve all read the “In His Steps” book to gear up for the conversation.

Hodges referred to Matthew 25, where Jesus describes “the least of these.”

“People who are overlooked, marginalized, disenfranchised,” Hodges said. “It is our responsibility as people of faith to minister to these people, to help make life and life’s burdens a little lighter, to live out the Christian principles that we say we hold deeply. … Although we may be from different faith traditions, I think we can all agree that looking out for those who are homeless, those who are in prison, those who are hungry, those sorts of things are principles of humanity and most faith communities support coming together to provide some relief in these situations. It’s exciting because Jesus would absolutely do that.

“He was a radical character who thought outside the box, who crossed boundaries — cultural boundaries, religious boundaries, economic boundaries, political boundaries.”

DiCaro, from the governor’s office, said she feels a lot of pressure to be entrusted with helping further Atkinson’s goal for the group. While listening to the book, she said she started thinking that it’s about 50/50 what people can control and what they can’t. She sees “an opportunity to better direct what you can control in a more productive way … an opportunity to hopefully inspire people to reevaluate what they can do in — this sounds cheesy — making the world a better place.”

She said she hopes people will be inspired to ask themselves in any situation to “do better, rethink, ask: Is there a different approach to what we’re doing here, especially with all the uncertainty going on around us? It’s a great reminder to reevaluate what we can control.”

Edwards, the Catholic, said just being asked to participate was an honor, “knowing the life Pamela’s lived and all the things she’s had her hand in.”

He said he has since been pondering, “Are we really sacrificing anything like Christ would have sacrificed? Are we helping our neighbors out? Are we too involved with ourselves, maybe?”

Atkinson doesn’t have very big feet, Edwards said, “but she has huge shoes to fill.”

That ripple effect will be very important.