Republican Celeste Maloy has emerged as the winner of the Utah special election to replace her former boss, U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. This victory marks a significant moment in Utah's political landscape as it brings a woman back into the state's five-member congressional delegation for the first time since 2019. Maloy faced off against state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who serves as the minority whip in the Utah Senate, making her the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber.

Stewart announced his resignation in September after serving 10 years in Congress. His decision was driven by his wife's illness, and this prompted the special election to determine his replacement. As Stewart's former chief legal counsel, Maloy had both his endorsement and that of former Utah U.S. Rob Bishop, making her the favored candidate in the reliably Republican 2nd District. This district stretches from Salt Lake City to the western and southern edges of the state.

Notably, Maloy's victory will make her only the fifth woman in history to represent Utah in the House of Representatives. The most recent woman to hold this position was Mia Love, who served from 2015 to 2019 and was also Utah's first Black congresswoman. It is worth mentioning that Utah has never had a woman in the U.S. Senate.

The special election was significant for another reason as well. The House of Representatives has been operating with only 434 members since earlier this year due to resignations. Stewart's departure on May 31 and the resignation of former Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island on June 1 left two vacant seats. Democrat Gabe Amo won the special election for Cicilline's seat on November 7. Consequently, Maloy's victory in this special election will restore the House to its full complement of 435 members.

Maloy, originally from southern Nevada but now residing in southwestern Utah, was the clear frontrunner in the Republican-leaning 2nd congressional district. Her campaign focused on key issues such as improving security on the U.S.-Mexico border, reining in federal spending, protecting religious freedom, and asserting Utah's control over natural resources on federal lands. During an October 26 debate with Riebe, Maloy emphasized her experience working for Stewart, stating, "I've been working for this district. I've been solving issues that people in this district have called their congressman about and asked for help."

On the other side, Riebe, a Long Island native currently residing in the Salt Lake City suburb of Cottonwood Heights, campaigned on her background as a teacher. She pledged to continue teaching five days a week while also advocating for more affordable housing, support for labor unions, and public education based on student needs and community values. Riebe conveyed her connection with families across the state, stating, "I am very in touch with my families across the state. I have been working to understand how our policies impact their home lives."

Maloy had a clear advantage in fundraising, raising nearly $600,000 and spending over three-quarters of that amount during the seven months leading up to the election. In contrast, Riebe raised half that amount and spent approximately 90% of it, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The departure of Chris Stewart, a six-term congressman and U.S. Air Force veteran, triggered a rush among Republicans to fill his seat. Maloy capitalized on her rural support to secure victory in the three-way Republican special primary on September 5. She overcame competition from former state Rep. Becky Edwards and businessperson Bruce Hough. On the Democratic side, Riebe emerged as the top vote-getter in a Democratic convention and was unopposed for her party's nomination.

With the conclusion of this special election, Utah will have a new representative in Congress. Celeste Maloy's win not only adds another woman to Utah's congressional delegation but also restores the House of Representatives to its full strength. As Maloy prepares to take office, she will join the state's other three Republican U.S. representatives, as well as its two Republican U.S. senators.