A former staffer for Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, won his bid to replace her after she resigns later this year.
Celeste Maloy, who served as Sterwart’s chief legal counsel in Congress, won a three-way Republican primary election Thursday ahead of an upcoming special election. In the Republican nomination, he is now the heavy favorite in the special election against Sen. Democratic state’s Kathleen Riebe in November.
“It’s exciting that we’re going to have someone come out of this primary that represents rural and southern Utah. I think it’s time for that, and everybody’s ready for it,” Maloy said Thursday.
Stewart served in the House of Representatives for about 10 years, but he resigned in September due to his wife’s illness.
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Utah Republican Rep. Chris Stewart has served in the House of Representatives for about 10 years, but he is resigning in September due to his wife’s illness. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Maloy credited his win to his campaign’s focus on rural areas in Utah.
“I debated in rural counties. I showed up and held events in rural counties,” Maloy said. “We decided early on that our strategy was to win the rural counties, and then get as many as we could in the more urban counties.”
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Celeste Maloy, who served as chief legal counsel to Rep. Chris Sterwart in Congress, won a three-way Republican primary election Thursday ahead of an upcoming special election.
Maloy’s re-election effort had a boost from Stewart’s own endorsement as well as an endorsement from former Utah US Rep. Rob Bishop.
Stewart was one of three members of the US House of Representatives who voluntarily left office earlier this year. Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI, and Donald McEachin, D-Va., also resigned within the past 12 months.
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In all, 15 other senators and representatives have announced they will not run for re-election in 2024, opening up races across the country.
Nearly two dozen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2024, opening up races across the country. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
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Maloy will face Riebe on November 21.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
