Meet the Democratic nominee for November’s special congressional election to replace Rep. Chris Stewart, Utah State Sen. Kathleen Riebe.
Motivated by her father's legacy of public service as a New York City police officer, Riebe is relying on her status as the only schoolteacher and current state lawmaker in the race, to persuade voters that the right person to fill the 2nd District's open seat is not a conservative, but rather a “moderate” Democrat focused on the issues that matter most to working- and middle-class parents like herself.
“I think people are ready for a change,” Riebe said in an interview with the Deseret News.
Riebe sincerely believes this election could be a unique opportunity for a Democratic upset. For one, it is an open seat, and Riebe thinks the division between the Republican candidates hoping to fill it — Becky Edwards, Bruce Hough and Celeste Maloy — may harm the eventual GOP nominee in a general election.
However, the odds are, to say the least, not in her favor. The 2nd Congressional District is considered a safe Republican seat by the National Republican Congressional Committee. In 2022, Stewart was reelected by a 25-point margin. And in 2020, 2nd District voters chose former President Donald Trump over President Joe Biden 56 percent to 39 percent.
But as one of only six Democratic state senators in a body of 29 members, Riebe is used to making her influence felt in the face of a daunting majority.
“I’m really frustrated with all the wedge issues on both sides,” Riebe said. “I’d like to stop with that noise and get down to work for what’s really important to people.”
Read more about what motivated Riebe to enter politics and where she stands on the issues.
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