Rep. Ben McAdams, and Republican challenger Burgess Owens both pictured in 2020 file photos. (Scott G Winterton and Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – A new poll has the race for Utah’s 4th Congressional District neck and neck.
Republican challenger Burgess Owens and Congressman Ben McAdams, a Democrat, are tied in the latest Desert News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll.
The survey polled 800 voters in the 4th District and has a margin of error of 3.5%. The district represents portions of Salt Lake and Utah counties.
When asked, “if the election for Congress were to be held today, for whom would you vote,” Burgess Owens was selected by 35% of the respondents. The man that currently represents the 4th Congressional District, Rep. Ben McAdams, was also chosen by 35% of the poll’s respondents.
“This is our first real look at this 4th Congressional race,” the Director of the Hinkley Institute of Politics, Jason Perry, told KSL Newsradio host Boyd Matheson.
“It’s always a highly competitive district,” Perry said.
In 2018, when then-candidate Ben McAdams was running against Congresswoman Mia Love for the 4th District seat, a similar Hinckley poll showed a similar result.
“They were tied, in that poll, at 46%,” Perry said. “It shows that this is just a highly, highly competitive district, so we really shouldn’t be completely surprised that it’s tied at this point.
“It’s more than just about what side of the aisle you are on.” And tellingly, Perry said, 24% of voters are still undecided.
Simone Seikaly contributed.