POLITICS + GOVERNMENT
Utah’s 4th Congressional District race may break records
Oct 15, 2018, 7:26 AM | Updated: 8:03 am
(Deseret News Composite Photo)
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s not just people living in Salt Lake, Utah, Juab, and Sanpete counties paying attention to Utah’s 4th Congressional District race. Heads are turning nationwide and big money is being spent by both parties.
The race is part of a larger battle for control of the House of Representatives coming into the November mid-term.
“The party that controls the White House normally loses substantial numbers of House seats,” says Utah State University Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Lyons. “The Democrats appear poised to recapture control of the House of Representatives, with prognosticators putting the odds at about 3-to-1 in the Democrats’ favor.”
That’s why big money is being spent on the 4th Congressional District race. For example, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC spending over $100-million nationwide to keep the House G-O-P majority, dropped a million bucks on a TV commercial for Love.
Utahns are rightfully concerned about potentially irresponsible growth in their communities. McAdams failed to provide solutions for gridlocked traffic and overcrowded schools but was quick to cash the check of big developers and approve the construction of 9,000 housing units. pic.twitter.com/W4FwrnOvoE
— Mia Love (@MiaBLove) October 12, 2018
According to Lyons, House incumbents normally outspend challengers of a ratio of 5-to-1 or more, but McAdams is keeping pace.
Cook Political Report moves our race to Toss Up! They must be seeing the same incredible enthusiasm and support for our campaign that I’m seeing from Republicans, Independent and Democrats on the ground here in Utah! #utpol https://t.co/lZgDlaHtYo
— Ben McAdams (@BenMcAdams) October 3, 2018
“We have yet to know how much outside money, which could come into the millions of dollars, we’ve yet to know how much outside money will come in. The closer the race is, the higher the level of outside spending. This could easily turn into the most expensive U.S. House race in the history of Utah. For all I know, it may already be.
The two square off in a debate Monday night at 6:00 p.m.
Tune into KSL NewsRadio at 102.7 FM or 1160 AM for live coverage.