A former staffer for Utah Rep. Chris Stewart has emerged as the winner in the three-way Republican primary for a special election to succeed him after he resigns from office.
Celeste Maloy defeated former state Rep. Becky Edwards and businessperson Bruce Hough. She will now face Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in the special general election on November 21 in the reliably Republican district.
Maloy, who served as the chief legal counsel for Congressman Stewart, is resigning from office on September 15 due to his wife’s illness. The district includes northern Salt Lake City and parts of western and southern Utah.
Despite questions about her eligibility, Maloy secured the endorsement of Stewart and former Utah U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop. She was nominated by Republicans at their convention in June, even though she hadn’t voted in recent elections while living in Virginia.
After Edwards initially took the lead in the early counting in urban areas, Maloy gained momentum with voters in rural areas, ultimately securing the victory.
Maloy expressed excitement about representing rural and southern Utah and pledged to work with Republicans heading into the general election. She also expressed interest in serving on the House natural resources and armed services committees.
Edwards gracefully conceded the race and thanked her supporters for their dedication. The primary race served as a gauge of Republican voters’ response to former President Donald Trump’s indictments and alleged mishandling of classified information.
Maloy, who has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and previously worked as a U.S. Department of Agriculture soil conservationist, attributed her success to her campaign’s focus on rural areas and her message against government overreach.
With her victory in the primary, Maloy moves closer to succeeding Rep. Chris Stewart in the special election and continuing to serve the Republican district in Utah.
