Ben McAdams
Candidate for Utah 1st Congressional District · Democrat
On the 2026 ballotCandidate · Utah 1st Congressional District · Nov 3 General
Ballot status source: Utah Lieutenant Governor — 2026 General Election Certification (signed August 28, 2026), list of qualified candidates: U.S. House of Representatives District 1 — 'BEN MCADAMS', Democratic · read Sep 24, 2026
Running for Utah 1st Congressional District, Nov 3 General. The race page has 3 other candidates, 3 certified results. See the race
Roles on File
Seats held and sought, elections and committees, newest first.
- RunningUtah 1st Congressional DistrictNov 3, 2026 · On the 2026 ballot
The District
What Utah 1st Congressional District covers
Covers part of Salt Lake County.
582 precincts · District lines: Congressional lines: enacted plan "Utah US Congress Districts 2026 to 2032 (court-adopted Map 1A)" (League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature, Third District Court (Judge Dianna Gibson): Map 1 adopted Nov 10, 2025, with court-approved corrections (Map 1A)); 2026 status: In effect for 2026: Utah Supreme Court dismissed the Legislature's appeal and stay request Feb 20, 2026. Official file https://services1.arcgis.com/99lidPhWCzftIe9K/arcgis/rest/services//FeatureServer/0 · Precinct lines: built as a shared topology from exact clipped pieces
Key Votes
The record
No public voting record
Holds no elected public office. Checked 2026-09-24.
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · GOTV Intel review of official candidate lists
Newest first. A close vote was decided by 5% of the votes cast or less (or 10 votes or fewer, under a fifth of the votes). Broke with party: voted against most of their party, where the record gives the party split.
Their Money
Campaign finance
- Last Change
- Profile updated · Sep 24
- Raised
- $2,262,255cycle to date through Jun 30
- Cash on Hand
- $299,350cycle to date through Jun 30
- Spent
- $1,977,908cycle to date through Jun 30
- Debts Owed
- $0cycle to date through Jun 30
- Next Report Due
- Q3 Report · Oct 15
View on FEC.govFEC, cycle to date through Jun 30, 2026
Top Payees
Who the campaign paid most, as its filing reports it.
- Old Town Media Llc$597,520.00
- Sb Digital Inc$322,119.20
- Landslide Political$157,510.97
- Impact Research Inc$126,900.00
- The Strategy Group$115,777.38
Campaign finance · Friends Of Ben Mcadams: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election CommissionFinance Reports
Campaign finance · Friends Of Ben Mcadams: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Raised $2,262,254.60 this election cycle (as reported) · spent $1,977,908.28 · cash on hand $299,349.65 · debts owed by the committee $0.00 — through Jun 30, 2026. Where the money came from (cycle to date, as reported): Individuals $1,977,494.37 (87%); PACs and other political committees $193,290.83 (8%); Transfers from authorized committees $89,575.00 (4%); Other receipts (refunds, offsets, other) $1,894.40 (0%). Where it went (itemized operating expenditures this cycle, FEC-processed through Sep 20, 2026): media and advertising $1,083,298.92; staff, contractors and reimbursements $168,031.24; field and canvassing $157,510.97; polling $126,900.00; direct mail $120,167.79; digital $78,908.22.
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission
Money shows as the filings named here report it. Payees are who the campaign paid; individual contributors are not shown.
Advertising
Who is advertising for and against Ben
Advertising summary · for and against (2026 cycle)
For: own campaign on Google $22,500–$29,000 (ad ranges); outside Google ads $60,000–$75,000; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $1,128,698. Against: outside Google ads $0–$0; opponent campaign ads $0–$0; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $0. 2026 cycle. Broadcast TV: not yet searched. Meta not included.
Jun 23, 2026 · Official · Ads summary (2026 cycle)Google/YouTube ads · THINK BIG (supporting)
THINK BIG — supporting this candidate (evidence: schedule e). 3 ads since Nov 2024; spend on these ads $60,000–$75,000 (Google creative spend ranges, geo-allocated); 0 of them also linked to other candidates.
Jun 23, 2026 · Official · Google Political Ads Transparency Report (bundle updated 2026-09-23 21:37 PT) · sourceGoogle/YouTube ads · FRIENDS OF BEN MCADAMS (supporting)
The candidate's own campaign (FRIENDS OF BEN MCADAMS). 3 ads since Nov 2024; $22,500–$29,000 (Google creative spend ranges).
Jun 23, 2026 · Official · Google Political Ads Transparency Report (bundle updated 2026-09-23 21:37 PT) · source
Independent Expenditures
FEC independent expenditures on file: $1,128,698 supporting, $0 opposing, across 6 reports.
THINK BIGSupporting · $1,128,698
6 reports, newest Jun 16, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing
Spend as each platform or filing reports it. Each line is a separate measure, and they are not added together.
In Their Words
What they have said, on the record
“Congress constitutionally is empowered to be an independent check, and this shouldn't be Republican (versus) Democrat”
“I've never been more worried about the direction of the country than I am right now”
“I think that the level of corruption from this administration makes 2019 look quaint”
“Donald Trump is dismantling our democracy, weaponizing the Justice Department, targeting immigrant communities, enriching himself and his allies, and weakening America abroad.”
“Congressional Democrats have too often acted like this is politics as usual.”
“Utah families are picking up the tab for a broken and corrupt system. People are paying more for groceries, housing, health care and energy while Donald Trump and his allies hand tax breaks to billionaires, protect powerful corporations and pass costs along to working families.”
Show all 10 statementsShow fewer
“I voted to impeach Donald Trump, knowing it would probably cost me my re-election.”
“I have a track record of getting things done. You know, I'm somebody who looks at the toughest issues that are facing our community, and I take them head-on, build coalitions and get it done.”
“My service will always be about Utah. I'll work with anyone to get results. But I've never been afraid to stand up and even stand alone to fight for the America that you and your family deserve to live in.”
“I'm running for Congress because Washington has forgotten what real life feels like.”
In the News
Press coverage
- Former Trump staffer running against McAdams in Utah's blue seatAug 11, 2026 · Press · Deseret News
- Ben McAdams on how Utah Democrats fit into today's Democratic PartyJun 25, 2026 · Press · Deseret News
- Is Ben McAdams running for Congress again?Jun 8, 2026 · Press · Deseret News
- Q&A: Ben McAdams says he'll stand up to Trump againJun 4, 2026 · Press · Axios Salt Lake City
- Utah 1st District Democratic primary: What to know about Ben McAdamsJun 1, 2026 · Press · KUER
Headlines link to the original reporting, captured on the date shown.
Reach Them
Websites and accounts
Campaign website capture
Campaign website https://benmcadams.com/ captured 2026-09-24T21:42:26Z (1280x900 viewport, logged-out).
Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Campaign website · sourceCampaign website: https://benmcadams.com/
Source: https://benmcadams.com/
Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Campaign website · source
The Paper Trail
Filings, results and exhibits
On the ballot: U.S. House, Utah 1st District · November 3, 2026 general election
Listed as "BEN MCADAMS" (Democratic) on the UT official election authority certified candidate list for the 2026 General Election (as of read 2026-09-24). Checked 2026-09-24.
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · UT official election authority · sourceU.S. Representative · UT-01
Democrat · Candidate · On the 2026 ballot
Sep 19, 2026 · Official
File read Sep 25, 2026. Each item names its source. Record ID p_s0y4dep11.
GOTV Intel reports are sourced, cited research leads your campaign confirms against the primary record before use. They are never a consumer report and never for employment, credit, insurance, housing or licensure.