Utah voters will get a chance to hear congressional candidates face off in four statewide debates this fall, the Utah Debate Commission announced Thursday. The events run from late September through Oct. 20 and will be hosted by colleges and universities across the state.
What changes for voters
The schedule gives residents public opportunities to evaluate contenders in person or online before the Nov. 3 general election. All debates will be streamed on KSL.com and broadcast on KSL Channel 5, expanding access for Utahns who cannot attend campus events.
Dates, sites and participating contests
Officials said fuller details on formats and participant qualifications will be released later. Past practice has allowed candidates who meet polling thresholds to take part, typically including major-party nominees and sometimes excluding lower-polling third-party or independent hopefuls.
| District | Date | Host | General-election candidates listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sept. 29 | Salt Lake Community College | Ben McAdams (D); Riley Owen (R); Jesse West (L); Elias Henry Montgomery (Unaffiliated) |
| 3rd | Oct. 2 | Utah Tech University | Celeste Maloy (R); Kent Udell (D); Michael Stoddard (L); Cassie Easley (Constitution); Adonis Hooslyn (Unaffiliated); Ayden Scott (Unaffiliated) |
| 4th | Oct. 8 | Snow College | Mike Kennedy (R); Jonny Larsen (D); Taylor Wright (L); Steven Burt (Unaffiliated) |
| 2nd | Oct. 20 | Utah State University | Blake Moore (R); Peter Crosby (D); Daniel Cottam (L); Carlton Bowen (Independent American) |
How candidates typically qualify
The commission said format and participant rules will be announced later; historically, debates have opened to contenders who meet predetermined polling support thresholds. That approach usually ensures main-party nominees participate while sometimes excluding lower-polling third-party and independent campaigns.
For voters, the debates provide a structured setting to compare stances on issues ranging from the economy to public lands and national policy. The availability of online streams through KSL means Utahns statewide can watch even if they cannot attend on campus.
- When: Sept. 29–Oct. 20, 2026 (see table for individual dates).
- Where to watch: KSL.com and KSL Channel 5.
- Next steps: The Utah Debate Commission will publish debate formats and final participant lists ahead of each event.
Election Day is Nov. 3. The debates are part of the pre-election calendar intended to give voters information before they head to the polls.
— Miles Christensen, Utah correspondent
