Rep. Ben McAdams, the only Democrat in Utah’s congressional delegation, conceded his race to GOP challenger and former NFL player Burgess Owens on Monday.
The all-American hero Owens is the twelfth GOP challenger to unseat his incumbent Democratic opponent during the 2020 election. Owens announced that McAdams had conceded the race in a tweet on Monday evening.
“I received a call from [McAdams,] he expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve #UT04 and his commitment to a smooth transition. My sincere thanks to him for both. Thank you, my fellow Utahns, I am committed to have an open ear to serve you. Thank you for the opportunity,” Owens said.
I received a call from @BenMcAdams he expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve #UT04 and his commitment to a smooth transition. My sincere thanks to him for both. Thank you my fellow Utahns, I am committed to have an open ear to serve you. Thank you for the opportunity
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) November 16, 2020
Owens maintained a roughly 2,000-vote lead over the incumbent McAdams when he decided to concede the election.
Owen’s pick-up is a key victory for the GOP.
Cook Political Report House editor David Wasserman told Deseret News, it is “heartbreaking for Democrats.”
“It’s a heartbreaking loss for Democrats, considering the margin,” Wasserman said. “It’s possible Republicans could take this seat off the table for 2022 if they’re able to muscle through a map that protects Owens in the 2021 redistricting process.” The state’s Republican-dominated legislature will guide redistricting.
Democrats have failed to win any of the toss-up seats as labeled by the Cook Political Report.
Also, according to Cook, Republicans won 5 of the 18 races rated as Lean D (28%), and 2 of the 18 races we rated as Likely D (11%). In the 2018 ‘blue wave,’ Dems won 2 of the 29 races we rated as Lean R (7%), and 2 of the 29 races we rated as Likely R (7%).”
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