Celeste Maloy triumphs in Utah special primary for Rep. Chris Stewart’s seat.
Celeste Maloy Wins GOP Primary in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District
Celeste Maloy, a former congressional staffer for Utah Rep. Chris Stewart, emerged victorious in a three-way GOP primary during a special election to fill Stewart’s seat. The Associated Press declared Maloy the winner shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
“It’s exciting that we’re going to have somebody come out of this primary that represents rural and southern Utah,” said Ms. Maloy. “I think it’s time for that, and everybody’s ready for it.”
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Looking ahead to the general elections, Maloy, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, pledged to “build bridges” with Republicans. She expressed her interest in serving on the House natural resources and armed services committees.
Maloy, who resides in Cedar City, garnered strong support from rural voters in Utah, defeating former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and businessman Bruce Hough in a closely contested race.
Edwards, a critic of President Trump, conceded defeat and thanked her supporters for their unwavering commitment. However, she did not mention Maloy.
In May, Rep. Stewart announced his resignation to care for his unwell wife. He endorsed Maloy, who had previously served as his chief legal counsel. Maloy is expected to have a significant advantage in the special general election on Nov. 21 against Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in a district that traditionally leans Republican.
Maloy’s lead surged ahead on Wednesday, gaining an advantage over Edwards in the early urban vote count on Tuesday.
Attributing her campaign’s success to its focus on rural areas, Maloy, a native of southern Nevada, highlighted her opposition to “government overreach” as a resonating message among rural voters.
“I did debates in the rural counties. I showed up and held events in the rural counties,” said Maloy. “We decided early on that our strategy was going to be to win the rural counties, and then get as much as we could in the more urban counties.”
Maloy holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Southern Utah University and previously worked as a soil conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In June, Republicans selected Maloy as their nominee at their convention, despite concerns about her eligibility due to a lack of recent voting in the 2016 and 2020 presidential contests while residing in Virginia. Former Utah U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop also endorsed Maloy.
This three-way primary served as a unique measure of the political landscape in Utah’s 2nd Congressional District.
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