McAdams represented Salt Lake County throughout his career as former State Senator, Mayor & Congressman
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Former Congressman and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams announced his campaign today for Utah’s First Congressional District. McAdams is excited at the chance to again represent Utahns in the heart of the state and be a strong voice for them in Washington. McAdams highlighted his own family’s financial struggles growing up as he vowed to get to work lowering the cost of living, improving access to affordable housing, and ensuring healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Watch McAdams’ launch video HERE.
“I’m running for Congress because the challenges facing Utah and this country demand we get off the sidelines. Too many Utah families are working harder than ever but still not making ends meet, and that’s a struggle I know personally. We grew up in a hardworking family, but we still lived paycheck to paycheck, in fear of the next utility or medical bill coming due. Donald Trump and Washington elites seem to think affordability is just a slogan. They’ve forgotten about families like mine and are more concerned with gaining and keeping power than feeding our kids or making health care affordable,” said McAdams.
“For too long, our system has been working only for the powerful, not the people. From advancing LGBTQ rights to holding Donald Trump accountable, I’ve never been afraid to do what’s right for Utah, even if I stand alone,” McAdams continued.
Ben McAdams is a seventh-generation Utahn born and grew up in West Bountiful, raised by his school teacher mom who cared for six children largely alone. His mom taught him and his five siblings the values of hard work and being of service to their neighbors and community. To help his family make ends meet, Ben started working at age 11 and since then, he’s worked nearly every job imaginable – farm work, fast food, guitar repair. After high school, Ben went on his mission to Brazil where he saw first hand how basic government services could transform people’s lives. Motivated by his experience and the values instilled by his mom, Ben has committed his adult life to serving Utahns.
From working for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, to serving in the State Senate, to Mayor of Salt Lake County and then to Congress – Ben has always done what’s right, even when it’s hard. In the Utah State Senate, Ben brought together diverse groups to lead landmark anti-LGBT non-discrimination legislation and worked across the aisle to enact bills to protect Utahns from financial fraud and pyramid schemes. As mayor of Salt Lake County, Ben brought together unprecedented partnerships to tackle things like early childhood education, criminal justice reform, and homelessness. In Congress, Ben stood up to the Trump Administration and stopped them from restarting nuclear weapons testing which has been linked to cancer in Utahns. And when the facts and evidence were released, Ben voted to impeach Donald Trump, even when he knew it would cost him his political career.
Ben and his wife, Julie, live in Salt Lake City and have four kids.
Launch video is also available on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Visit website at BenMcAdamsUtah.com.