Candidates Riley Owen and Ben McAdams squared off last night in their race for the most competitive congressional race in Utah and the Doers Network showed up to hear from them and learn about their vision for the district.

Republican Riley Owen and Democrat Ben McAdams were the only candidates to meet the commission's 10% polling threshold. Other unaffiliated and third party candidates did not qualify for the stage.

Owen, a first-time candidate, runs as a young conservative focused on families. He drew attention to his age as one of the only Gen Z congressional candidates and proposed nationwide social media regulations and expanded business tax credit for companies that offer maternity leave. On trade, he said free trade is the best policy, and that tariffs should be judged by whether they bring jobs and investment to American workers and businesses. He added that tariffs should come paired with deregulation, permitting reform and job training.

McAdams is a former Salt Lake County mayor who served one term in Congress. He blamed high prices on President Trump's tariffs and the war in Iran, and pledged to act as a check on the executive branch.

The debate was primarily cordial and polite, with the sharpest exchange came over redistricting. McAdams credited Proposition 4 and the court-ordered map with giving voters more say. Owen countered that the current map leaves one blue-leaning district and three deep-red ones, which he called "a breeding ground for extremism."

The two candidates agreed on several reforms to Congress, including a ban on stock trading by members of Congress, term limits, and overturning the Supreme Court ruling that bars certain limits on political donations. 

Although the Doers Network is not endorsing federal-level candidates this election cycle, this race is one of the most significant in the state and it’s important to stay up to date with what the candidates are saying.